SLEEP &

SLEEP DISORDERS

SLEEP

• Sleep is one of the states of consciousness.

• Most individuals spend 1/3rd of their entire life asleep.

• Much of our knowledge of sleep comes from E.E.G..

• EEG measures changes in the electrical activity of brain and has proved very helpful.

STAGES OF SLEEP

RHYTHM OF SLEEP

FUNCTIONS OF SLEEP Reload energy deposits. Helps to stay in a good mood. Growth and development. During REM sleep, body retains

products of new learning, & integrates this new material with existing memories.

Helps to cope up with emotion provoking & threatening experiences.

EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Impaired creativity & concentration. Diminished immunity to disease. Irritability. Slow performance. Drowsiness. However , highly

motivating tasks are little affected by sleep deprivation.

SLEEP DISORDERS

Sleep disorders are very common & affect many people each year.They may lead to many consequences.Some common sleep disorders are:

- insomnia - sleep apnea - narcolepsy - parasomnias

INSOMNIA• The most common sleep

disorder.• Insomnia is basically

poor quality of sleep caused by difficulty in falling or staying asleep.

• It may be caused by depression, stress, poor health, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, etc.

• Treatment includes sleeping pills & behavior therapy. Practicing good sleeping habits is useful.

SLEEP APNEA•This disorder is marked by stopped respiration.•Patients intermittently stop breathing during sleep.•Breathing stop for periods of up to 2 minutes, many times each night.•It is usually accompanied by loud snoring.•It is common in overweight people.•If cause is physical obstruction, surgery maybe indicated.

NARCOLEPSY• Patients suffer periodic,

overwhelming sleepiness, sometimes at the most inappropriate times, perhaps, just after taking terrific swing at a softball or when laughing loudly or shouting angrily.

• Classic symptoms of narcolepsy are:

* excessive daytime & inappropriate time sleeping.

* cataplexy( loss of muscle tone in response to emotional stimulus, such as surprise or laughter)

* sleep paralysis * hypnogenic

hallucinations.

PARASOMNIAS• Includes many abnormal

sleep behavior such as sleepwalking, sleep talking, night terrors, sleep sex, etc.

• The treatment of these sleep disorders may include meditations & behavioral treatments.

SELF HELP FOR SLEEP DISORDERS• Improving daytime habits• Incorporating regular sleep routine.•Keeping fixed sleep schedule.• Proper bedroom ambiance.•Turning off gadgets before sleep in advance.

REFERENCES

Bernstein, D.A., Penner, L.P., Clarke-Stewart, E.J.

(2008). Psychology (8th Ed.). N.Y.: Houghton

Miffin

Baron, R.(2004) Psychology. New Delhi :

Prentice – Hall of India.

Aachal P. TaywadeAsst. Prof. (Psychology),Amity University Mumbai.