Sleep and Drugs

melatonin

melatonin

A hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland that is implicated in the initiation of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.

addiction

A state of psychological or physical dependence (or both) on the use of alcohol or other drugs.

agonist

A drug that increases the effects of a neurotransmitter's action by either mimicking the neurotransmitter or allowing more to be released.

alcohol

A depressant that disrupts memory formation during REM sleep and lowers inhibition.

antagonist

A drug that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action.

caffeine

A stimulant which can increase alertness and wakefulness but also produce anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia in high doses.

cocaine

A powerful and addictive stimulant which produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria. Blocks dopamine reuptake.

depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

hallucinogens

Psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

heroin

As a nervous system depressant, this opiod can produce a rush of euphoria, confidence, and energy, as well as cardiovascular stress, suspiciousness, and a depressive crash.

marijuana

A mild hallucinogen that produces a "high" often characterized by feelings of euphoria, a sense of well-being, and swings in mood from gaiety to relaxation; may also cause feelings of anxiety and paranoia.

opioids

Opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

psychoactive drugs

Any drug that has significant effects on psychological processes, such as thinking, perception, and emotion. They include those deliberately taken to produce an altered state of consciousness and therapeutic agents designed to alleviate a mental condition.

stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

tolerance

The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect.

withdrawal

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior.

activation synthesis

Theory that dreams reflect inputs from brain activation originating in the pons, which the forebrain then attempts to weave into a story.

circadian rhythm

The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

consolidation theory

The theory that sleep aids memory consolidation. Sleep also helps to restore and rebuild the experiences and memories of our day.

hypnogogic sensations

Bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep.

insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

jet lag

A disruption of circadian rhythms due to crossing time zones.

narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

NREM sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep

NREM stage 1

the initial stage of NREM sleep, which is characterized by low-amplitude brain waves (4-6 Hz) of irregular frequency, a slow heart rate, and reduced muscle tension.

NREM stage 2

a stage of NREM sleep that is defined by regular bursts of waves of about 15 Hz that progressively increase and then decrease in amplitude. Stage 2 is half of your nights sleep

NREM stage 3

During this slow wave sleep, which lasts for about 30 minutes your brain emits slow delta waves; deep sleep; where somnambulism is most likely to occur.

paradoxical sleep

Although though the brain is quite active during REM sleep, consuming large amounts of energy, the body remains completely inactive. In addition, the brain waves during REM sleep are reminiscent of the brain waves demonstrated when someone is awake and alert.

REM rebound

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur.

REM sleep behavior disorder

a sleep disorder in which normal REM paralysis does not occur; instead, twitching, talking, or even kicking or punching may occur, often acting out one's dream

shift work

Work scheduled during the swing shift (usually 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.) or night shift (12 a.m. to 8 a.m.).

sleep apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

somnambulism

A sleep disorder characterized by persistent incidents of complex motor activity during slow-wave NREM sleep. These episodes typically occur during the first hours of sleep and involve getting out of bed and walking, although the individual may also perform more complicated tasks, such as eating, talking, or operating machinery. While in this state, the individual stares blankly, is essentially unresponsive, and can be awakened only with great difficulty; they do not remember the episode upon waking.

sleep/wake cycle

This is a component of circadian rhythm

ghrelin

hunger arrousing hormone that is increased with a lack of sleep

leptin

hunger suppressing hormone that is decreased when sleep deprived causing weight gain