Sleep disorder

Sleep disorder

The disturbance of normal sleep patterns caused by a broad range of illnesses, including dysfunctional sleep mechanisms, abnormalities in physiological functions during sleep, abnormalities of the biological clock, and sleep disturbances that are induced by factors extrinsic to the sleep process.

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Sleep disorder

Cerebral cortex

Health care; Sleep disorder

The brain's outer layer of grey tissue that is responsible for higher nervous function.

Brain waves

Health care; Sleep disorder

The brain's spontaneous electrical activity studied by electroencephalography (EEG).

Pons

Health care; Sleep disorder

The brainstem region critical for initiating rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Deep sleep

Health care; Sleep disorder

Also called slow-wave sleep (SWS), it refers to combined non-rapid eye movement sleep stages 3 and 4 (under the old definition of stages. Under the new classification, just stage 3).

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Health care; Sleep disorder

An amino acid neurotransmitter (C 4 H 9 NO 2 ) in the brain. Believed to be involved in muscle relaxation, sleep, diminished emotional reaction and sedation.

Night terrors

Health care; Sleep disorder

Also known as sleep terrors, or pavor nocturnus. Incomplete arousal from slow wave sleep accompanied by a state of intense fear and agitation. Experienced, especially by children, on awakening from a ...

Circadian disruption

Health care; Sleep disorder

Also called circadian disturbance, a departure of the body's circadian cycle from the environment or habit. Results in a change in the time of day during which sleepiness and wakefullness happen. ...