Understanding Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

Circadian rhythm

Natural internal process that regulation biological process that occur every 24 hrs, influence sleep wake patterns, temperature, hormone release and is based on light.

Things that impact circadian rhythm

Jet lag and shift work.

Stages of Sleep

NRAM 1, NRAM 2, NRAM 3, REM, NRAM 2, NRAM 3.

EEG

Allows us see diff brain waves.

Awake

Beta waves.

Drowsy/relaxed

Alpha waves.

Stage 1

Theta waves and light sleep and have hypnagogic sensations like the feeling of falling.

Stage 2

Sleep spindles and K complexes, deep sleep.

Stage 3

Delta waves, deepest sleep most restorative.

REM (rapid eye movement)

Beta waves, dreams and paradoxical (limbs relaxed so we dont act out dream).

BATS Drink Blood

Mnemonic to remember stages of sleep.

REM Rebound

Someone doesnt get enough sleep, spend more time in REM stage and enter it more quickly than normal.

Why we sleep

Memory consolidation and restoration.

Activation synthesis theory

Our brain is still active while we sleep, so dreams result from random neural activity, brainstem generates random signals and cerebral cortex makes sense of them by creating a narrative.

Consolidation Theory

During sleep brain replays recent memories to strengthen and stabilize them.

Insomnia

Person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

Sleep attacks, fall asleep randomly.