Physiology

 

Introduction

    Information about the physiological effects of sleep has been gained using three different methods.  The first is through the comparison of the physiology of organisms’ sleeping and wakeful states.  The second involves the examination of the physiological effects of sleep deprivation.  The third is through comparing the physiology of organisms that sleep to the physiology of organisms that do not sleep.  Most of the information available on sleep has been gained from the first two methods.  These methods have been especially important for studies of sleep in humans and Norway rats.  These studies have shown that there are many physiological differences between sleeping, wakeful, and sleep deprived states.  Based on results from these studies, several physiological explanations for steep have been proposed.  While sleep does provide a period of repair and rejuvenation for some physiological systems, this is probably an additional benefit of sleep, coincidentally derived, and not the main purpose of sleep or the reason for its evolution.  The third method has just recently begun to be used, but it has quickly built support for the view that sleep results from an increased need to process sensory information.  These three methods will be examined, as will be the conclusion that have been drawn from them.

    The subject of tissue restoration will be discussed along with its major components: mitosis, urea, ATP, and creatinine.  An instrumental hormone, human growth hormone (hGH), and the immune system will complete the discussion on the physiology of sleep deprivation.

Topics for physiology:


 

 Home| Intro | Behavioral | Physiological | Neurochemical | Therapy | Ath. Performance
Research Tech.  | References


For Physiology:  Intro  | Changes(sleep)  |  Changes(Sleep Dep)  |  TissueRestore  | Immune System