Functions and Mechanisms of Sleep

Abstract

Sleep is a complex physiological process that is regulated globally, regionally, and locally by both cellular and molecular mechanisms. It occurs to some extent in all animals, although sleep expression in lower animals may be co-extensive with rest. Sleep regulation plays an intrinsic part in many behavioral and physiological functions. Currently, all researchers agree there is no single physiological role sleep serves. Nevertheless, it is quite evident that sleep is essential for many vital functions including development, energy conservation, brain waste clearance, modulation of immune responses, cognition, performance, vigilance, disease, and psychological state. This review details the physiological processes involved in sleep regulation and the possible functions that sleep may serve. This description of the brain circuitry, cell types, and molecules involved in sleep regulation is intended to further the reader’s understanding of the functions of sleep.

Sleep quality and its associated factors among nurses in jimma zone public hospitals, Southwest Ethiopia, 2018

“…Sleep is a state of reduced consciousness and responsivenessfrom which an individual can be aroused by external stimulus. In humans, is also associated with reduced movement (Zielinski, McKenna, & McCarley, 2016). Sleep quality is a complex mix of domains, including quantitative aspects such as the duration of sleep, time taken to get to sleep (sleep latency), and arousal times, as well as more subjective aspects such as depth, restfulness, and refreshment from sleep (Girschik, Heyworth, & Fritschi, 2012).…”

Does exercise improve sleep quality in individuals with mental illness? A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Sleep is fundamental to human health (Chen et al, 2006) and serves a range of essential functions throughout the lifecycle including brain development, cognitive processing and performance including memory retention, modulation of immune function and metabolism (Zielinski et al, 2016).…”

Sleep-inducing effect of substance P-cholera toxin A subunit in mice

“…Histamine and SP are able to stimulate microglial activation and the subsequent production of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interluekin-6 (IL-6)[30;31]. Because pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6 are somnogenic,[32–34] increased sleep amounts observed in SP-CTA treated mice could be explained by their increased activity.…”