Question

Recent studies indicate that the brain takes mini naps when a person is sleep deprived. What role does sleep play in restoring one's mind? Consider the cognitive changes that a person experiences when sleep deprived. What is it about nonsomniacs that seems to contradict what most believe about the role of sleep? What is REM sleep, and what role does it play in memory consolidation? Is the hippocampus, a structure known to play a role in the consolidation of memories, active during REM sleep? Might REM-related dreams be related to one's actual experiences? Why does the amount of time that infants spend sleeping differ from adults? Does REM sleep play a role in the neural development of a young brain? Compare the amount of time people spend in sleep stages over a lifetime. How does slow-wave sleep change over the life span?

Answer 1

What role does sleep play in restoring one's mind?

When we sleep well, we wake up feeling refreshed and alert for our daily activities. Sleep affects how we look, feel and perform on a daily basis, and can have a major impact on our overall quality of life.

What is REM sleep, and what role does it play in memory consolidation?

Rapid eye movement sleep is a unique phase of sleep in mammals and birds, distinguishable by random/rapid movement of the eyes, accompanied with low muscle tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the sleeper to dream vividly.

The quantity and quality of sleep affect a person’s ability to remember, and sleep is a period where the brain consolidates memories.

memory Consolidation happens during waking and sleep.

Consolidation represents the processes by which a memory becomes stable.

neuronal activity specifically during REM sleep is required for normal memory consolidation,

Healthy sleep must include the appropriate sequence and proportion of NREM and REM phases, which play different roles in the memory consolidation-optimization process. During a normal night of sleep, a person will alternate between periods of NREM and REM sleep. Each cycle is approximately 90 minutes long, containing a 20-30 minute bout of REM sleep. NREM sleep consists of sleep stages 1–4, and is where movement can be observed. A person can still move their body when they are in NREM sleep. If someone sleeping turns, tosses, or rolls over, this indicates that they are in NREM sleep. REM sleep is characterized by the lack of muscle activity. Physiological studies have shown that aside from the occasional twitch, a person actually becomes paralyzed during REM sleep.

less REM sleep will lead to improper memory function.

Is the hippocampus, a structure known to play a role in the consolidation of memories, active during REM sleep?

During REM sleep, intense activity is also observed in the limbic system, a set of structures heavily involved in emotions. Two of these structures are especially active: the hippocampal regionand, in particular, the amygdala. ... Yet the frontal cortexremains relatively calm during REM sleep.

Why does the amount of time that infants spend sleeping differ from adults?

many adults sleep straight through the night—perhaps waking once—because a baby's sleepcycle is so short, he or she is prone to fully or partially waking up during the transition from deep sleep to light sleep. ... Infants are also more easily awakened when they first fall asleep during the active REM stage. INFANTS sleeping differ from adults because of REM SLEEP

Does REM sleep play a role in the neural development of a young brain?

A new study found that Rapid Eye Movement (REM) can transform the things children experience when they are awake to lasting memories and that an enzyme vital to brain development is secreted only during this stage of sleep. With this,REM is crucial to the overall development of children's brains. REM sleep is considered incredibly important for a new born as it is thought to be necessary for the development of the brain.

Compare the amount of time people spend in sleep stages over a lifetime.

Newborns spend over fifty percent in REM sleep and slowly decrease down to twenty-five percent over the next two years.

Infants sleep about thirteen hours throughout a twenty-four hour day and typically fall directly into REM sleep from being awake. Their NREM-REM cycles in which the brain transitions through all five stages of sleep, are about 50 to 60 min.

Children, adolescents, and young adults decrease their sleep from fourteen to about eight hours during the night and typically enter stage 1 - NREM sleep first and then transition through all of the five stages of sleep in about 90 - 100 min. They spend about twenty percent of their overall sleep in the REM stage. The NREM:REM ratio is stabilized at 1:4.

Adults sleep around eight hours per night and just as children and adolescents enter stage 1 - NREM sleep first and then transition through all of the five stages of sleep in about 90 to 100 min. They also spend about twenty percent of their overall sleep in the REM stage. The NREM:REM ratio continues to be 1:4.

Older adults sleep less than eight hours but just as younger adults they enter stage 1 NREM sleep first and have a 90 - 100 min. NREM - REM cycle. They spend about twenty percent of their overall sleep in the REM stage and the NREM:REM ratio stays at 1:4.

How does slow-wave sleep change over the life span?

yes slow wave sleep change over life span.  (SEM) percentage of deep slow wave sleep decreased from 18.9% (1.3%) during early adulthood (age 16-25 years) to 3.4% (1.0%) during midlife (age 36-50 years) and was replaced by lighter sleep (stages 1 and 2) without significant increases in sleep fragmentation or decreases in rapid eye movement (REM).