Physiology of Normal Sleep: From Young to Old.
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Date
2013-07
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Abstract
Human sleep, defined on the basis of electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram
(EMG) and electrooculogram (EOG), is divided into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
and four stages of non–rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Collective monitoring and
recording of physiological data during sleep is called polysomnography. Sleep which
normally starts with a period of NREM alternates with REM, about 4-5 times, every
night. Sleep pattern changes with increasing age. Newborns sleep for about 14-16
hours in a day of 24 hours. Although there is a wide variation among individuals, sleep
of 7-8.5 hours is considered fully restorative in adults. Apart from restorative and
recovery function, energy conservation could be one of the functions of sleep. The role
of sleep in neurogenesis, memory consolidation and brain growth has been suggested.
Though progress in medical science has vastly improved our understanding of sleep
physiology, we still do not know all the functions of sleep.
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Keywords
electroencephalogram, electromyogram, electrooculogram, polysomnography, REM sleep, non–REM sleep, newborns, circadian rhythm, autoregulation, sleep function
Citation
Kumar V Mohan. Physiology of Normal Sleep: From Young to Old. Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India). 2013 Jul-Dec; 49(3&4): 81-91.