37 Questions
What is the impact of poor sleep on weight gain?
Reduction in non-intentional movements can increase weight gain
What is the purpose of Electroencephalography (EEG) in studying sleep?
To measure electrical activity of the neocortex across a time-series graph
What triggers the pons' REM-onset functions in narcoleptics?
Injured hypothalamus
What sets or resets the biological clock in humans?
Daylight (blue-spectrum, or sun light)
What is the area of the hypothalamus that receives direct input from the retina?
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
What causes the release of melanopsin into the suprachiasmatic nucleus?
Stimulation of retinal cells by (blue) light
What do high levels of melanopsin during the day cause the subparaventricular zone (SPZ) to do?
Inhibit the sleep-on area of the vl-POA
How do the neurons in the SCN regulate sleep-wake cycles?
Through the production and destruction of protein
Which genetic mutation is associated with early sleep and early wake up?
Advanced sleep phase syndrome per2 mutation
What is the pineal gland important for in terms of regulating rhythms?
Seasonal rhythms
What does melatonin work like in terms of speeding up changes in biological rhythms?
A lubricant
What is melatonin sold as, despite having no evidence of reducing sleep latency?
Sleep aid
What is the transition to daylight savings time (DST) associated with, according to the text?
A spike in heart attacks
Which brain wave activity is characteristic of Stage 1 of sleep?
Theta waves
What are sleep spindles?
Short bursts of high-frequency activity
What makes up 20% to 50% of brain activity during Stage 3 of sleep?
Delta waves
What is a characteristic of REM sleep?
Paralysis of the body
What effect does alcohol have on REM sleep?
Reduces REM sleep
What is the primary characteristic of Primary Hypersomnia?
Excessive daytime sleepiness
What percentage of people in the US are affected by Insomnia?
30%
What is Restless Legs Syndrome characterized by?
Involuntary limb movements during sleep
What effect does chronic cannabis use have on REM sleep?
Reduces REM sleep
What is the characteristic of brain activity during sleep?
Widespread and synchronized
What is a possible function of K Complexes and Spindles during sleep?
Memory consolidation
What does Stage 4 of sleep consist of?
Delta waves
Which sleep disorder is often linked to iron deficiency, kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy?
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
What type of sleep apnea is often associated with obesity?
Obstructive sleep apnea
What neurochemical plays a crucial role in sleep-wake regulation and is deficient in narcoleptics?
Orexin
Which sleep disorder involves a failure to become paralyzed during REM sleep, leading to acting out dreams?
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
What does sleep deprivation ultimately result in?
Psychosis, hallucinations, and delusions
What neurochemical inhibits neural activity, promoting sleep?
Adenosine
Which brain area strongly promotes sleep?
Ventrolateral preoptic area (vl-POA)
What is the evolutionary importance of sleep, as mentioned in the text?
Recovery and enhancement of neural circuits
What does narcolepsy cause, in addition to irresistible sleep episodes?
Sudden paralysis (cataplexy)
Which neurochemical is produced in the lateral hypothalamus and acts as a switch between wakeful and sleep states?
Orexin
What is the connection between the amygdala and narcolepsy symptoms?
Amygdala triggers REM onset
What type of sleep disorder involves urinating during sleep?
Nocturnal enuresis
Study Notes
Sleep Disorders and Neurochemical Control
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) can affect anyone, with a slight female predominance, and is hereditary, often linked to iron deficiency, kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy.
- RLS is treated with dopamine agonists, iron augmentation (if deficient), opioids, and anti-epileptics for severe cases.
- Two types of sleep apnea exist: central sleep apnea, where the brain's breathing regulation falters, and obstructive sleep apnea, often associated with obesity.
- Narcolepsy causes irresistible sleep episodes triggered by intense emotional arousal, with cataplexy leading to sudden paralysis and sleep paralysis occurring before sleep.
- REM Sleep Behavior Disorder involves a failure to become paralyzed during REM sleep, leading to acting out dreams.
- Slow-wave associated sleep problems include nocturnal enuresis, where patients urinate during sleep.
- The evolutionary importance of sleep is evident as sleep deprivation leads to psychosis, hallucinations, and delusions, ultimately resulting in death.
- Sleep allows the brain to recover and enhance neural circuits, with neurochemicals like acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, histamine, and orexin playing crucial roles in sleep-wake regulation.
- Adenosine inhibits neural activity, promoting sleep, and brain areas like the ventrolateral preoptic area (vl-POA) strongly promote sleep.
- Orexin, produced in the lateral hypothalamus, acts as a switch between wakeful and sleep states and is deficient in narcoleptics, leading to sporadic sleep episodes.
- Orexin's role in narcolepsy is linked to the hypothalamus's inhibitory effect on the amygdala, which is disrupted in narcoleptics, leading to exaggerated emotional responses.
- The amygdala's connection to the pons triggers REM onset, contributing to narcolepsy symptoms.
Test your knowledge of sleep disorders and the neurochemical control of sleep with this quiz. Explore conditions like Restless Leg Syndrome, Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, and understand the role of neurochemicals such as dopamine, orexin, adenosine, and more in regulating sleep-wake cycles.
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