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Sleep Synthesis Essay

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Neurotransmitters are nerve signaling chemicals produced by nerve cells (neurons) in various parts of the brain. Controlling wakefulness and sleep state is one of their work. Hypothalamus is the main area of the brain that is responsible for these secretions and regulation. For example serotonin and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters produced by neurons in the brainstem that keeps the brain active while people are awake. When people fall asleep some neurons starts signaling to shut down the awaking signals. According to Mastin (2013), wakefulness has not got one regulation center in the brain, it is a system controlled by different parts of the brain such as the hypothalamus, brainstem and basal forebrain. Brain sends alerting signals to …show more content…

This cycle is being controlled by 2 different systems in the body which are called circadian rhythm (process C) and sleep wake homeostasis (process C). They are closely related and provide a balance between each other. (Mastin, 2013, “The Two Process of Sleep Regulation”). Circadian rhythm is governed by circadian clock which is the key mechanism that regulates the timing of sleep in the hypothalamus. It is also regulator of feeding models, core body temperature, cell regeneration, brain wave activity and hormone activity which is organized by light dark cycle. Circadian rhythm of all animals is arranged according to the surrounding by external factors which are called Zeitgebers (In German it means time givers). Day light is the most significant Zeitgeber since humans are mostly active during the daytime. This internal clock is independent with the length of the sleep. For example even longer sleep than usual might be not enough or inefficient if it does not occur at the right time of the circadian cycle. Mastin (2013) stated that ıf sleep occurs at the right time of the circadian cycle core body temperature decreases to the minimum level around 4.30-5.00 am and melatonin hormone which is produced in the pineal gland, cause drowsiness and decrease body temperature starts to be secreted around 8.00-9.00 pm until 7.00-8.00 am (“Circadian Rhythms”). Second

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