Chapter 9:Brain States

Lack of sleep

Can cause depression, anxiety, impairment similar to alcohol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cognitive impairment.

EEGs

Used to measure electrical waves in the brain during sleep, caused by the movement of ions in and out of active neurons.

Slow wave sleep

State of sleep characterized by high amplitude, low frequency brain waves and decreased neuronal excitement.

REM sleep

Stage of sleep where brain waves resemble those when awake, characterized by low amplitude, rapid eye movement, and increased motor cortex activity.

Sleep regulation

Orexin-producing neurons in the hypothalamus use various neurotransmitters to keep us awake, while the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus suppresses the arousal system.

Sleep-wake cycle

Independent regulation by the circadian system (based on daylight) and the homeostatic system (based on how long you've been awake).

Sleep disorders

Insomnia, sleep apnea, REM sleep behavior disorder, narcolepsy, and their respective symptoms and treatments.

Arousal

Motivation to perform actions, influenced by neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and histamine.

Sensory input

Environmental stimuli processed in the thalamus and transmitted to the cortex.

Autonomic nervous system

Regulates heart rate, blood flow, breathing, and physical arousal.

Sexual arousal

Involves hormones like estrogen and testosterone, activating neurons and receptors in the hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens.

Attention

Changes in physiological parameters like heart rate and breathing, voluntary and involuntary attention, and attention-related disorders such as ADHD and hemineglect.

Default mode network

Certain brain regions active during sleep and associated with specific tasks, including the posterior area, hippocampus, and dorsomedial regions.