Ontogeny of Sleep

M.S Blumberg

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-378610-4.00009-7

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Book chapter

Ontogeny of Sleep

M.S Blumberg

Encyclopedia of Sleep, pp.32-37

Elsevier Inc

2013

DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-378610-4.00009-7

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Abstract

Humans and other mammals never sleep more than when they are young. However, as any new parent is aware, infant sleep differs from that of adults in that it accumulates in short bouts across the day and night. It is only with age that sleep bouts consolidate and occur preferentially during the night. These basic developmental processes of consolidation and emergence of circadian rhythmicity are typical of mammals, whether they occur prenatally (in precocial species such as sheep) or postnatally (in altricial species such as rats). Another feature of sleep development is that some of the components that are used to define it in adults are initially absent in infants. Close inspection has revealed that sleep–wake cycles are expressed initially as relatively rapid fluctuations of high and low muscle tone coupled with wake-related behaviors (e.g., kicking, stretching) or sleep-related movements called myoclonic twitches. It is upon this foundation that other components of sleep, including the delta activity that characterizes quiet sleep, are added. Although brainstem mechanisms are sufficient to support the foundational components of sleep–wake cycling, forebrain components are necessary for consolidation, circadian rhythmicity, and sleep rebound after periods of sleep deprivation. Finally, although it is not yet fully understood why infants exhibit such high quantities of sleep – especially active sleep – in early infancy, or why infants exhibit such high rates of twitching, recent work is shedding new light on these important issues by focusing on the perinatal period as a time of increased brain plasticity.

Phasic activity

Quiet sleep

Infancy

Circadian rhythm

Diurnal

Myoclonic twitching

Skeletal muscle

Fragmentation

Sleep rebound

Consolidation

Sleep pressure

Delta wave

Ultradian rhythm

Nocturnal

Development

Active sleep

Rapid eye movements

Spontaneous activity

Details

Title: Subtitle: Ontogeny of Sleep
Creators: M.S Blumberg - The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Resource Type: Book chapter
Publication Details: Encyclopedia of Sleep, pp.32-37
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-378610-4.00009-7
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Language: English
Date published: 2013
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology
Record Identifier: 9984070890202771

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