Sleep
ION Program Summer 2013
electroencephalogram - EEG - record of the electrical activity
of many neurons directly under the electrode - on the surface of
cortex. This record is made from outside the skin.
Slide from Chris Goode, PhD, PSYC 1100:
Natural Sciences Aspect of Psychology, Week 9:
Consciousness Spring 2008
We define sleep stages by the kinds of EEG waves seen at each stage
Slide from Chris Goode, PhD, PSYC 1100: Natural Sciences Aspect of Psychology, Week 9:
Consciousness Spring 2008
We go through several cycles of sleep each night
Slide from Chris Goode, PhD, PSYC 1100: Natural Sciences Aspect of Psychology, Week 9:
Consciousness Spring 2008
Sleeping patterns change with age
Slide from Chris Goode, PhD, PSYC 1100: Natural Sciences Aspect of Psychology, Week 9: Consciousness Spring 2008
Two Biological Clocks in the Brain
Slide from Chris
Goode, PhD,
PSYC 1100:
Natural Sciences
Aspect of
Psychology,
Week 9:
Consciousness
Spring 2008
Our daily cycle (circadian rhythm) is determined in part by the SCN
(suprachiasmatic nucleus) in the hypothalamus
Slide from Chris Goode, PhD, PSYC 1100: Natural Sciences Aspect of Psychology, Week 9:
Consciousness Spring 2008
Consequences of Lack of Sleep
• Limits your ability to concentrate and solve
problems*
• Increase acne*
• Lead to aggressive or inappropriate
behavior*
• 100,000 Driving Accidents and 1,500 deaths
each year from driving drowsy**
*According to National Sleep Foundation
** According to the National Highway
Safety Transportation Administration
WHY do we sleep?
rest/restoration
hypothesis we sleep to
replenish energy, repair
tissues
evidence: marathon
runners spend more time
in deep sleep for 2 nights
after
Slide from Chris Goode, PhD, PSYC 1100: Natural Sciences Aspect of Psychology, Week 9:
Consciousness Spring 2008
“adaptive” or
preservation/protection theory:
it’s dangerous out there; you’re
safer if you spend some time
hidden and unconscious
evidence:
large herbivores who must eat
constantly and have trouble hiding
sleep LESS - giraffes = 20 min at
time 2-3x per day
animals with few natural predators
sleep more - lions
smaller animals that don’t need to
graze sleep more - bats
Slide from Chris Goode, PhD, PSYC 1100: Natural
Sciences Aspect of Psychology, Week 9:
Consciousness Spring 2008
•
•
•
•
•
•
Memory Consolidation?
Sleep helps to strengthen or
“consolidate” new memories in the
brain
Rats spend more time in REM
sleep after learning new tasks
If deprived of REM sleep, weaker
recall
Some of these results inconsistent
Babies and Infants more time in
REM Sleep
Dolphins don’t experience REM