Sleep deprivation Flashcards
Sleep deprivation
refers to the situation where a person is getting a lack of adequate sleep.
Partial sleep deprivation
is when a person has some sleep in a 24 hour period but not a sufficient amount.
Sleep debt
is known as the amount of sleep loss from insufficient sleep. Usually a good night’s sleep is enough to recover from sleep deprivation, though longer may be need for longer periods of deprivation. It is not needed to sleep for the whole amount that was deprived.
Microsleeps
are brief, involuntary periods of sleep that occur during normal wakeful activity. They assist in overcoming or preventing sleep deprivation and usually last 3-15 seconds. We are usually unaware of microsleeps.
Cognitive difficulties of sleep deprivation
· Difficulties paying attention & concentrating · Difficulty processing information · Difficulty thinking & reasoning · Memory problems · Impaired creativity · Distorted perceptions
Affective feelings in sleep deprivation
· Mood disturbances- high emotionality, confusion, irritability
· Previously enjoyed activities seem boring
· Lack of motivation
Feelings of fatigue
Behavioural difficulties
· Slowed performance
· Clumsiness
· Risk-taking behaviour
· Problems performing tasks (esp, simple and monotonous, and ones requiring sustained attention and concentration)
- performance on short, complex, difficult tasks not affected
Physiological
· Slower physical reflexes · Hand tremors · Droopy eyelids · Difficulty in focusing · A heightened sensitivity to pain · Headaches · Lower energy levels
No change in heart rate, perspiration, blood pressure, temp
Lack of REM sleep effects
· A lack of REM sleep could result in memory problems, mood disturbances and lack of protein synthesis.
· REM Rebound is an effect that occurs following a loss of REM sleep. We generally experience larger amounts of time in REM sleep after being deprived.
Lack of NREM sleep effects
· Studies suggest that a lack of 3&4 NREM sleep could lead to disruptions in growth and the body not being able to restore itself.
Sleep-wake cycle shifts
· In teenage years the sleep cycle changes with a later release of melatonin. Because of this there is a delayed onset of sleep and a need for more sleep (9-10 hours).
- newborns spend 16 hours a day sleeping, half of this is in REM; adults spend 8 hours 1/4 in REM, by age 60 very little time spent in stage 4, sleep 6 hours (same amount of REM)
Sleep Phenomena
· Observable experiences that occur during sleep & may have the potential to disrupt sleep.
· If they occur often & disrupt sleep they are referred to as sleep disorders.
· A sleep disorder refers to any problem that disrupts the normal NREM-REM sleep cycle, including the onset of sleep.
Nightmares
- An unpleasant dream usually occurring during REM sleep in which the content is frightening & upsetting, but is often able to be remembered on awakening.
- People are likely to wake up during them, body is in state of paralysis due to REM sleep.
- No visible difference from dreaming
- REM
- Children > adults. Women twice more likely than men.
- Times of high stress, fatigue or personal trauma.
- Naturally grow out of it.
Night terrors
- A sleep disorder which occurs during NREM delta-wave sleep & is characterized by sudden awakening from sleep in an extreme state of distress & little or no recall of the episode in awakening.
- Little or no bodily movement.
Little recall of the episode
May wake screaming
Perspiring profusely
Dilated pupils
Terrified expression on face
May speak incoherently
May walk around in state of panic
Breathing & heart rate increase
Difficult to console - (15 – 20 mins)
- Stages 3 or 4 of NREM, when delta waves are prominent
More often in children 3-5 years, especially in boys,Can be mild in adults. - Amount of time spent in NREM stages 3 & 4 during early childhood.
- Naturally grow out of it.
1 Night without sleep
discomfort but is tolerable
