OnlineMedEd: Psychiatry - Sleep Physiology

Question 1

Importantly, you have to go through the sleep stages _____________.

Answer 1

in order (NI to NII to NIII to REM)

Question 2

Describe what happens to the sleep stages as you go through the night.

Answer 2

The N stages get shorter and the REM stages get longer.

Question 3

What EEG patterns correspond to I, II, III, and REM?

Answer 3

• I: Theta with absent alpha
• II: K-complex with sleep spindles (you can think of it as two Ks and two Ss –so long as you spell complex with a K)
• III: Delta
• REM: awake brain patterns with atonia

Question 4

Erections are present in which stage of sleep?

Answer 4

REM

Question 5

Sleep latency is the _____________.

Answer 5

time between putting your head down and entering stage NI

Question 6

Normally, it takes about _______ to go from NI to REM.

Answer 6

40 minutes

Question 7

REM latency is decreased in ______________.

Answer 7

narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and alcohol use

The last two are from disrupted sleep.

Question 8

Stimulation of GABA does what to sleep?

Answer 8

Decreases latency and decreases NIII sleep

Question 9

How are nightmares and night terrors different?

Answer 9

• Nightmares occur in REM sleep, are accompanied by atonia, and are remembered.
• Night terrors occur in NIII sleep, occur with muscle tone, and are unremembered.

Question 10

Some people discover that alcohol and benzodiazepines decrease the occurrence of nightmares. Why is this not advisable?

Answer 10

Alcohol and benzodiazepines decrease nightmares by decreasing REM sleep. This will cause the person to be unrested.

Question 11

How should nightmares and night terrors be treated?

Answer 11

Neither requires treatment. If the nightmares are caused by a stressor, then the stressor should be addressed.