Understanding Sleep Disorders and Neurophysiology

A set of flashcards focused on key vocabulary related to sleep, neurophysiology, and motor control based on provided lecture notes.

Cerebral cortex

The outer layer of the brain involved in conscious perception and motor control.

Action potential

A rapid rise and fall in membrane potential that occurs when a neuron sends a signal.

Motoneurons

Nerve cells that transmit signals from the CNS to skeletal muscles, controlling muscle contractions.

REM sleep

A sleep phase characterized by rapid eye movement, muscle atonia, and vivid dreaming.

Atonia

Loss of muscle tone or paralysis during REM sleep, preventing the body from acting out dreams.

Glutamate

A neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in initiating REM sleep and regulating muscle atonia.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter released during wakefulness and NREM sleep that inhibits REM sleep.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter important for movement control, affected by conditions such as Restless Legs Syndrome.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

A chronic neurological disorder causing an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, especially at night.

Sleep paralysis

A condition characterized by an inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up.

REM behavior disorder (RBD)

A disorder where normal muscle paralysis during REM sleep is lost, allowing individuals to act out dreams.

Hyperpolarization

A state in which the inside of a neuron becomes more negative than its resting potential, making it less excitable.

Interneuron

A type of neuron that connects other neurons within the CNS, forming local circuits.

Decussation

The crossing over of nerve fibers from one side of the body to the other within the central nervous system.

Neuromuscular junction

The synapse where motoneurons connect with skeletal muscle fibers to initiate contraction.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Phasic activity

Brief bursts of neural firing occurring on top of a continuous pattern of activity.

Tonic activity

Continuous, steady firing of neurons, as seen in the constant inhibition of motoneurons during REM sleep.