Sleep Functions and Patterns

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the benefits of sleep?

Increasing stress

Boosting your immune system (correct)

Decreasing emotional processing

Decreasing immune system functionality

Newborns typically spend what percentage of their time in sleep?

40%

60%

50% (correct)

20%

What is the recommended sleep time for toddlers?

9-10 hours

11-13 hours

12-14 hours (correct)

10-12 hours

What can help reduce nightmares in preschoolers?

Limiting/eliminating TV before bedtime Signup and view all the answers

Why do adolescents tend to be sleepy during the day?

Due to a shift in their circadian rhythms Signup and view all the answers

What is a common phenomenon experienced by boys during adolescence?

Nocturnal emissions Signup and view all the answers

What is the duration of REM sleep?

5 to 30 minutes Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended sleep time for adults?

7-8 hours Signup and view all the answers

What is the frequency of sleep cycles in a full night's sleep?

4-6 cycles Signup and view all the answers

During REM sleep, brain activity is similar to what state?

Wakefulness Signup and view all the answers

What is a common obstacle to sleep in adolescents?

Usage of blue-spectrum light emitting devices Signup and view all the answers

Why is it recommended to put infants to bed when they are drowsy but not asleep?

To help them become 'self-soothers' Signup and view all the answers

What happens to gastric secretions during REM sleep?

They increase Signup and view all the answers

What is a common phase of sleep entered by newborns immediately?

REM sleep Signup and view all the answers

What is the duration of a complete sleep cycle?

90-110 minutes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of Stage 1 NREM sleep?

Light sleep with a few minutes duration Signup and view all the answers

During NREM sleep, what happens to the heart rate?

It decreases slightly Signup and view all the answers

What happens to muscle tone during REM sleep?

It dramatically decreases Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during Stage 3 NREM sleep?

The sleeper's heart and respiratory rates decrease significantly Signup and view all the answers

What is the region of the brain stimulated during REM sleep?

Region used in learning, thinking, and organizing information Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of NREM sleep?

To restore energy and release growth hormone Signup and view all the answers

What happens to heart and respiratory rates during REM sleep?

They become irregular Signup and view all the answers

What happens to peripheral blood vessels during NREM sleep?

They dilate Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of decreased skeletal muscle tone during NREM sleep?

Decreased reflexes Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of NREM sleep on basal metabolic rate?

It decreases by 10-30% Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of decreased intracranial pressure during NREM sleep?

Decreased brain activity Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Functions of Sleep

Boosting immune system
Strengthening emotional processing
Improving mood and decreasing stress
Improving memory function
Improving cellular growth
Repairing tissue and muscle recovery
Increasing productivity
Improving exercise performance

Normal Sleep Patterns & Requirements

Newborns

Sleep for 12-18 hours a day with an irregular schedule
Enter REM sleep immediately, with body movement and irregular respirations
Spend 50% of time in sleep only, with a 50-minute sleep cycle

Infants

Awaken every 3-4 hours, eat, and then return to sleep
Wakefulness increases during the first month
By the end of the first year, take 2 naps per day and sleep for 9-12 hours
Spend sleep time in light sleep with some activity, movement, gurgling, and coughing

Toddlers

Need 12-14 hours of sleep per day
Still need afternoon naps, but mid-morning naps gradually decrease
Often resist bedtime and may awaken during the night
Nightmares are common, and using a blanked or stuffed animal can help
Maintaining a daily sleep schedule helps good sleep habits

Preschoolers

Need 11-13 hours of sleep per night
Resist bedtime due to wanting to play, watch TV, or engage in other activities
Parents can help by maintaining a regular and consistent sleep schedule
Frequently wake up at night, may experience night terrors or nightmares
Limiting or eliminating TV can reduce nightmares

School-age Children

Need 10-11 hours of sleep per night
Often get less sleep due to homework, sports, social activities, and screen time
Parents can help by maintaining a regular sleep schedule and limiting screen time

Adolescents

Need 9-10 hours of sleep per night
Often sleepy during the day, especially in school and at home
Circadian rhythms tend to shift, leading to later sleep and wake patterns
Use of the internet, watching TV, and cell phone usage disrupts sleep due to blue-spectrum light exposure
Boys experience nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) and need to know it's normal

Adults

Need 7-8 hours of sleep per night, but some can function well on less sleep
REM sleep recurs every 90 minutes and lasts 5-30 minutes
Brain activity is high during REM sleep, similar to when awake
Dreams occur but are not remembered
Paradoxical sleep, muscle tone decreases, and heart rate becomes irregular

Sleep Cycles

Pass through NREM and REM sleep
Complete cycle lasts 90-110 minutes in adults
Sleeper passes through the first two stages of NREM sleep in 20-30 minutes
Stage 3 of NREM sleep lasts 50-60 minutes
After stage 3, the sleeper passes back through stage 2 and 1, then enters REM sleep
Adult usually completes 4-6 cycles during a 7-8 hour sleep
Sleeper awakened during any stage must begin a new cycle at stage 1 NREM sleep

NREM Sleep

Occurs when activity in the ARS is inhibited
Occurs mostly during the night
Three stages:

Stage 1

Light sleep, a few minutes, feeling drowsy and relaxed
Eyes roll from side to side, heart and respiratory rates drop slightly
Can be readily awakened and may deny being asleep
Low voltage brain wave

Stage 2

Sleep during which body processes slow down
Eyes generally still, heart and respiratory rates decrease slightly, body temperature falls
Requires more intense stimuli than stage 1: touching or shaking

Stage 3

Deepest stage of sleep
Heart and respiratory rates drop 20%-30%
Sleeper is difficult to arouse
Not disturbed by sensory stimuli, skeletal muscles very relaxed, reflexes diminished, snoring occurs
Essential for restoring energy and releasing important growth hormone

Physiological Changes during NREM Sleep

Arterial blood pressure falls
Pulse rate decreases
Peripheral blood vessels dilate
Cardiac output decreases
Skeletal muscles relax
Basal metabolic rate decreases 10%-30%
Growth hormone levels peak
Intracranial pressure decreases

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Description

Learn about the importance of sleep and its functions, including boosting immunity, improving mood, and enhancing memory. Explore normal sleep patterns and requirements across different ages.