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Synaptic Homeostasis Hypothesis Of Sleep

1113 Words5 Pages

Why humans spend much of their lives sleeping remains a mystery. A recent study published by Dr. Cristoph Nissen et al. at the University of Freiburg shows how sleep ‘resets’ the daily build up of electrical activity and synapses in the brain. This process is crucial in healthy brain functioning, and appears to be very important in allowing us to properly consolidate memories and skills. Understanding this complex process is key to understanding why humans sleep as well as practical solutions for treating certain neuropsychiatric disorders, such as clinic depression. Dr. Nissen’s experiment followed two rounds. In the first round, Nissen used magnetic pulses to make neurons fire in the brains of participants, evoking a muscle reaction in their …show more content…

This hypothesis states that sleep regulates synaptic activity – in other words, while awake, the human brain undergoes synaptogenesis, increasing overall connectivity and neural excitability, and while asleep, the human brain actively downscales the amount of synapses built and their strength. This allows for skills and memories to be consolidated over time and to prevent oversaturation of neurons. The central question addressed by the study is the validity of this hypothesis and if such findings can extend to treatment for various neuropsychological disorders, especially major …show more content…

The study found that cortical excitability and net synaptic strength significantly increased after sleep deprivation. On the contrary, synaptic plasticity and long term potentiation significantly decreased after sleep deprivation. Of particular note, it is found that after sleep deprivation the amount of BDNF in the blood was significantly lower after sleep deprivation. From this, the researchers hypothesize a wave pattern of long term potentiation over the sleep cycle, in which sleep is required to relieve an excess of synapses created over time spent awake, allowing for a balance of cortical excitability and adaptation and learning. From this, an additional hypothesis is made supporting therapeutic sleep deprivation, intended to reset long term potentiation into an acceptable timeframe, benefitting the patient’s

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By employing cause and effect as a rhetorical analysis device, authors can clarify complex ideas, support arguments, enhance their credibility, inspire action, and engage emotions. Overall, cause and effect enhance the effectiveness of their communication with their readers and overall audience. Throughout this article, Dimitriu reiterates the relationship between sleep and mental health and how it is “bidirectional” meaning that they influence each other. The effect is that lack of sleep or poor sleep quality can contribute to the development or even the exacerbation of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia. The cause being that sleep deprivation disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

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1305 Words | 6 Pages

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856 Words | 4 Pages

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