Sleep Studies: Deprivation and Disorders

Sleep Deprivation

• Sleep is an altered state of consciousness, not a period of dormancy
• Brain remains active during all stages of sleep
• Everyone dreams every night
• Sleep stages are: NREM 1, NREM 2, NREM 3, and REM
• REM sleep is essential for overall health
• REM sleep deprivation increases ghrelin (hunger hormone) and decreases leptin (hunger-suppressing hormone)
• REM sleep deprivation increases cortisol, a stress hormone that promotes fat storage
• REM sleep deprivation can suppress immune cells

Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Sleep Apnea: Repeated interruption of breathing during sleep
• Night Terrors: Episodes of screaming, fear, and flailing during sleep, not nightmares
• Sleep-walking: Walking or performing other activities during sleep
• Narcolepsy: Sudden episodes of overwhelming sleepiness

Circadian Rhythm

• The biological clock that follows a 24-hour cycle
• Body temperature, energy levels, and hormone production fluctuate based on this cycle
• Most teens and young adults are evening-energized
• Most older adults are morning-energized
• Artificial light can disrupt natural circadian rhythm

Psychoactive Drugs

• Chemicals that alter perceptions and moods
• Include both legal and illegal substances
• Drugs like caffeine and nicotine are psychoactive

Tolerance, Addiction, Withdrawal

• Tolerance: The brain adapts to a drug and requires higher doses for the same effect
• Addiction: Compulsive drug seeking and use despite negative consequences
• Withdrawal: Physical and psychological symptoms that occur when drug use is stopped or reduced

Drug Classification

• Depressants: Slow down the central nervous system. Example: Alcohol
• Hallucinogens: Distort senses and perception. Examples: LSD, ecstasy
• Stimulants: Speed up the central nervous system. Examples: Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine

Sleep

• Sleep is an altered state of consciousness.
• The brain is still active during sleep.
• Everyone dreams every night.

Sleep Stages

• NREM 1 (stage 1)
• NREM 2 (Stage 2)
• NREM 3 (Stage 3)
• REM Sleep

Circadian Rhythm

• The body is roughly synchronized with the 24-hour cycle of day and night.
• The body temperature increases throughout the day, dips in the afternoon, and is lowest at night.
• Most teens and young adults are evening-energized.
• Most older adults are morning people.
• Artificial light from cell phones, lamps, and other devices can interfere with circadian rhythms.

Sleep Deprivation

• REM sleep is critical to health!
• Increases ghrelin, a hunger arousing hormone, and decreases its hunger-suppressing partner leptin.
• It also increases cortisol, a stress hormone that stimulates the body to make fat.
• Can suppress immune cells that fight off viral infections and cancer.

Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia: Can’t sleep
• Sleep Apnea: Stop breathing in your sleep
• Night Terrors: NOT nightmares
• Sleep-walking
• Narcolepsy: Fall asleep spontaneously

Psychoactive Drugs

• Chemicals that change perceptions and moods.
• Also includes legal substances like caffeine and nicotine.

Tolerance, Addiction, Withdrawal

• Tolerance: Users develop this as their brain chemistry adapts to offset the drug effect.
• Addiction: To experience the same effect, users require larger and larger doses. Caused by ever-increasing doses of the drug.
• Withdrawal: The physical and mental symptoms that a person has when they suddenly stop or cut back the use of an addictive substance. Attempting to withdraw is often painful and extremely difficult.

Classification of Drugs

• Depressants: Slow down the function of the central nervous system.
  • Ex: Alcohol
• Hallucinogens: Affects your senses and change the way you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel things.
  • Ex: LSD, ecstasy
• Stimulants: Speed up the function of the central nervous system.
  • Ex: Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine

Sleep

• Sleep is an altered state of consciousness, where your body is not dormant and your brain is still active
• Everyone dreams every night
• The biological clock that regulates your sleep and wake cycle is called the circadian rhythm
• The circadian rhythm is synchronized with the 24-hour cycle of day and night, affecting body temperature, energy levels, and even hormone production throughout the day
• Artificial light from devices like cell phones and lamps can interfere with your circadian rhythm
• Sleep is divided into stages: Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) stages 1, 2, and 3, and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep

Sleep Deprivation

• Insufficient sleep can lead to a range of negative consequences, including increased hunger, stress, and weakened immune system
• Sleep deprivation can increase the production of ghrelin, a hunger-arousing hormone, and decrease leptin, a hunger-suppressing hormone, leading to weight gain
• Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system; lack of sleep can suppress immune cells, making you susceptible to viral infections and cancer

Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Sleep Apnea: Temporary pauses in breathing during sleep
• Night Terrors: Episodes of screaming and fear during sleep (NOT nightmares)
• Sleepwalking: Walking or performing other actions while asleep
• Narcolepsy: Sudden attacks of overwhelming sleepiness

Psychoactive Drugs

• Psychoactive drugs are chemicals that alter perceptions and moods
• They include both legal substances like caffeine and nicotine, and illegal drugs
• Tolerance: The brain adapts to the drug's effect, requiring larger doses over time to achieve the same effect
• Addiction: Continued drug use despite negative consequences due to cravings
• Withdrawal: Physical and mental symptoms experienced when stopping or reducing drug use, often painful and difficult

Drug Classifications

• Depressants: Slow down the function of the central nervous system; Example: Alcohol
• Hallucinogens: Alter sensory perception, changing the way you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel; Example: LSD, ecstasy
• Stimulants: Speed up the function of the central nervous system; Example: Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine