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Related Concept Videos

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

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Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
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Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
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Understanding Sleep01:11

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Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
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Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, involves individuals engaging in activities ranging from simple walking to more complex behaviors such as driving. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the slow-wave sleep stages 3 and 4 early in the night when the person is not dreaming, contradicting the myth that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams.
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Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

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Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
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Narcolepsy01:07

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Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
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Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

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Response to Dr Gerrit Verhoeven, '(Pre)Modern sleep: New evidence from the Antwerp Criminal Court (1715-1795)'.

Journal of sleep research·2020
Same author

Dear Dr Verhoeven.

Journal of sleep research·2020
Same author

What sleep research can learn from history.

Sleep health·2018
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Segmented Sleep in Preindustrial Societies.

Sleep·2016

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Reflections on 'Have we lost sleep?'

A Roger Ekirch1

  • 1Virginia Tech, History, Blacksburg, VA, USA.

Medical History
|September 13, 2024
PubMed
Summary

This study reasserts the historical prevalence of segmented sleep patterns in pre-industrial Western Europe. It critiques a recent reinterpretation of evidence, highlighting its selective use and neglect of later research on sleep history.

Area of Science:

  • History of Medicine
  • Sleep Science
  • Social History

Background:

  • Historical research suggests segmented sleep was common before the 19th century.
  • A recent article questions the predominance of segmented sleep and the transition to modern continuous sleep patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address and critique a recent reinterpretation of historical sleep patterns.
  • To reassert the evidence for widespread segmented sleep in pre-modern Western Europe.
  • To evaluate the methodology and source engagement of the critical article.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of historical evidence concerning sleep patterns.
  • Critique of secondary source interpretation in sleep history.
  • Re-examination of primary and secondary sources on pre-industrial sleep.
Keywords:
HistoryPre-industrialSegmented sleepWestern world

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Main Results:

  • The reinterpretation of evidence is found to be selective and erroneous.
  • The critical article overlooks significant subsequent research on segmented sleep.
  • The predominance of segmented sleep in pre-modern Western Europe is reconfirmed.

Conclusions:

  • The historical prevalence of segmented sleep in Western Europe is robustly supported.
  • Criticism of earlier research on sleep patterns is based on flawed analysis.
  • Further research should engage with the full body of work on sleep history.