EXAM 2: Sleep & Dreams

What structure resets our suprachiasmatic nucleus based on light input?

The Retinohypothalamic Tract

What are the 2 genes that regulate our circadian rhythms?

TIM and PER

Histamine is to ____, antihistamines are to _____

wakefulness, sleepiness

What neurotransmitters increase cortical arousal and wakefulness?

1. Acetylcholine
2. Glutamate
3. Orexin
4. Histamine
5. Norepinephrine

What neurotransmitters decrease cortical arousal and wakefulness?

1. Antihistamine
2. GABA

GABA is to _______, Acetylcholine is to _______, both come from the _______.

Inhibitory cells; Excitatory cells; Basal Forebrain

Orexin is released from our _______

Hypothalamus

What 2 main chemicals are important for inducing sleep?

1. Melatonin
2. Adenosine

Caffeine is an adenosine agonist OR antagonist?

Antagonist

During REM sleep, activity increases in which parts of the brain?

1. Pons
2. Limbic system
3. Parietal Cortex
4. Temporal Cortex

During REM sleep, activity decreases in which parts of the brain?

1. Primary visual cortex
2. Motor Cortex
3. Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
4. Spinal cord

Do dreams increase or decrease as we get older?

Decrease

True or False: There is proof that if humans stay awake long enough, they may die from sleep deprivation

False

What is the main theory as to why Narcolepsy happens?

A loss of orexin neurons in the human brain tissue

True or False: It is dangerous to wake someone who is sleepwalking.

False

What are the 3 theories on why humans sleep?

1. Repair and restoration
2. Energy conservation
3. To improve learning and memory

What is the main goal of synaptic scaling?

To maintain overall balance in the brain

What is the activation-synthesis hypothesis for dreaming?

Says there is spontaneous activity in our pons while we dreams which activates cortical areas. Our cortex then creates a story in our heads as a result.

What is the clinico-anatomical hypothesis for dreaming?

Says our dreams are just unusual thinking, and that our dreams are a combination of recent memories and sensory information. (More popular theory)

When dreaming, activity increases in which parts of the brain?

1. Inferior part of the parietal cortex
2. Hypothalamus
3. Amygdala

When dreaming, activity decreases in which part of the brain?

1. Prefrontal cortex (why we can't remember dreams)