Sleep

Overview of Sleep

• Sleep is a natural part of everyone's life
• We spend about 1/3 of our life asleep
• Important for motor and cognitive functions
• Sleep is required for survival 

Circadian Rhythm

• Physical, mental, and behavioral changes
• Roughly follows 24-hour cycle
• Primarily responds to light and darkness
• Circadian rhythms have genetic components

Sleep Stages

• Stage 1: Transition into sleep
• Stage 2: Brain produces sleep spindles
• Stage 3: Delta waves begin to emerge
• Stage 4 (REM): Dreams occur 

REM Sleep

• REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement
• Occurs during the 4th stage of sleep
• Heightened brain activity 
• Dreams occur
• Muscles become paralyzed

Insomnia

• Insomnia is a sleep disorder
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Waking up too early
• Feeling tired upon waking 

Narcolepsy

• Neurological disorder
• Affects control of sleep and wakefulness
• Excessive daytime sleeping
• Uncontrollably falling asleep 
• REM sleep occurs almost imediately 

Sleep Apnea

• Breathing repeatedly stops and starts
• Loud snoring 
• Obstructive sleep apnea: Throat muscles relax 
• Central sleep apnea: Brain doesn't send signals 

Importance of Sleep

• Improves memory 
• Longer life
• Happier
• More creative