PS263 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep, Circadian Rhythm, Hypnagogia
Document Summary
The best gauge is insomnia is how someone feels the following day, if you"re tired you"re not sleeping enough. Some cases of insomnia relate to shifts in circadian rhythms; ordinarily people fall asleep while their temp is declining and awaken while it is rising. If someone"s rhythm is phase delayed they can"t sleep at usual time, as if hypothalamus thinks it isn"t late enough. Phase advanced = falls asleep easily but awakens early. Multiple brain areas have lost neurons and show deficiencies of learning, reasoning, attention and impulse control. Results from genetics, hormones, old age deterioration of brain mechanisms that regulate breathing, obesity. 4 main symptoms but not every patient has all four: Occasional cataplexy (attack of muscle weakness while awake, triggered by strong emotions) Sleep paralysis (inability to move while falling asleep or waking up) Hypnagogic hallucinations (dreamlike experiences, difficulty distinguishing them from reality) Lack hypothalamic cells that produce and release orexin (important for maintaining wakefulness)
