PSYCH 212 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Autonomic Nervous System, Neuroglia, Memory Consolidation
15 Feb 2017
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As night approaches the pineal gland secretes the hormone melatonin informs brain about day length and entrainment (synchronization of circadian rhythms) Exogenous melatonin is a standard treatment for sleep disorders exogenous melatonin is a chronotbiotic slightly advancing the circadian phase by approx. The entrainment pathway consists of specialized retinal ganglion cells that project to. Scn via the retinohypothalamic tract do not rely on traditional photoreceptors (cones and rods) but a photopigment called melanopsin. Mot blind adults lack milanopsin containing retinal ganglion cells and show free- running circadian rhythms melatonin can help entrain circadian rhythms among blind individuals. When isolated from human cues about time of day, human circadian rhythm slowly shifts from 24 to 25 hours. Rem sleep (paradoxical sleep) - aside from moving eyes, body has no muscle tone and is paralyzed (atonia) Brainstem profoundly inhibit motor neurons via gaba transmission motor neurons are hyper polarized. Stage 2 accounts for ~50% of total sleep and rem for ~20%
