Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Functions of sleep
- EVOLUTIONARY
- INTRO: Sleep is risky so must have
some form of survival value, so
can be classed as an
advantageous behaviour. WEBB
- Sleep is instinctual that has
contributed to our survival so
has increased our reproductive
success.
- CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
- energy is used to maintain body temp
so sleep helps offset this demand.
Sleep is a time of relative inactivity
when energy is conserved.
- important for small
animals with high
metabolic rates so should
have evolved to sleep
longer to conserve more
energy
- BERGER & PHILLIPS - +ve
correlation metabolic rate
and average amount of
sleep
- SHAPIRO ET AL -
only conserves 15%
energy but depends
on having sufficient
energy and lack of
disturbances.
Dolphins sleep
unilaterally so never
completely asleep
saving energy
- ESCAPE PREDATORS
- status as predator or prey influences
amount of sleep. Prey species should have
evolved to sleep longer as they are inactive in
sleep and less detectable. However, they
should also sleep for short periods to prevent
being caught.
- ALLISON & CICCHETTI - sleep patterns of 39
different species. -ve correlation between risk
of predation and amount of sleep
- METHODOLOGICAL FLAWS -
correlational studies, cause and effect.
Other factors like body size with
explains why prey species sleep more.
- HOLISTIC - difficult to test
that a sleep pattern exists
because of evolution, just
because it exists doesn't mean
it has evolved.
- RESTORATION
- NREM SLEEP -
physical restoration
- important for repair: use up O2 during
wakefulness damaging cells. 'Cell repair
hypothesis' states NREM minimises damage
caused by free radicals. Brain cells repaired
during NREM as brain activity is reduced &
brain temp is ideal for enzymes to repair
cells.
- SWS important for
PHYS GROWTH, increase
in release of growth
hormone enabling
protein synthesis and
cell growth. SWS also
important for IMMUNE
FUNCTIONING, antibodies
are regenerated
defending against
bacteria.
- REM SLEEP- psychological
restoration
- benefits restoration and reorganisation of
CNS and brain development. % of REM much
higher in babies supports this. Even higher in
premature infants. STERN & MORGANE -
believe REM allows brain to replenish NT's
used throughout the day. Brain cells are able
to regain sensitivity for optimal performance.
- JOUVET - cats, REM
deprivation. up turned
flowerpots on water,
cat placed on pot and
fell asleep. NREM
remained balanced, in
REM lost tension and
fell in. Learnt to sit
wake up when they
feel their heads nod.
on average survived
35 days without
REM.
- Human research - PETER TRIPP - NY DJ stayed awake 201 hrs for charity and
experienced delusions and hallucinations such as spiders in shoes and thought
doctor was an undertaker. RANDY GARDNER, US high school student stayed awake
for 264 hrs. In the days following the 11 day period he recovered 50% of REM sleep
lost and suffered no long term effects.
- METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES:
no carefully controlled lab
conditions so lacks internal
validity. May have experienced
periods of 'microscope' such
as in shower or if friends fell
asleep, so not truly sleep
deprived and effects less
severe.
- INTRO: Oswald - purpose
of sleep is to restore
energy, eliminate waste
products, repair cells and
recover physical abilities
lost during wakefulness.
- ANIMAL RESEARCH - similar
findings across species. Michael
Corke stayed awake for 6
months and suffered
dementia, hallucinations &
rapid weight loss until his
organs shut down.