history of sleep medicine/science & function of sleep Flashcards
(45 cards)
contrast to wakefulness
Sleep is distinct from wakefulness.
reduced Awareness & responsiveness during sleep
Reduced; higher arousal threshold; selective response (e.g. hearing name).
Movement during sleep
Marked reduction or absence of movement (motor inhibition).
typical Posture during sleep
Closed eyes, characteristic posture (e.g. humans lie down, horses stand).
Cyclical nature
Sleep alternates with wake episodes.
Homeostatic regulation
Sleep recovers what’s lost (e.g. after deprivation).
Prompt Reversibility reversible—easy to wake from stimuli.
Mnemonic – Characteristics of Sleep
can’t Riona miss the club holiday program?
500–400 BC – Alcmaeon
Vascular theory: sleep from blood withdrawal to larger veins.
350 BC – Aristotle
Gut theory: food fumes induce sleep, cooling the brain.
1729 – de Mairan
Circadian rhythms in plants in darkness → intrinsic clock.
1836 – Charles Dickens
Described Pickwickian syndrome → linked to sleep apnea.
1897 – Edison
Light bulb invention disrupted natural sleep patterns (shift work).
1911 – Hypnotoxin theory
Toxins build during wake; sleep clears them.
1913 – Freud
Dreams protect sleep from disturbances; mind interaction.
1920s – Kleitman
Refuted hypnotoxin; showed role of circadian alertness.
1928 – Berger
First EEG recorded; distinguished sleep from wake.
1937 – EEG sleep features
Identified slow, synchronized brain activity.
1945 – Ekbom
Described restless legs syndrome.
1949 – Moruzzi & Magoun
Brainstem regulates sleep–wake; reticular formation key.
1951 – Kleitman & Aserinsky
Discovered REM sleep, observed eye movements.
1954 – Feldburg & Sherwood
Adenosine promotes sleep; caffeine blocks adenosine receptors.
1959 – REM & atonia
REM associated with muscle atonia.
1965 – Sleep apnoea
First described; common sleep disorder.
