REST AND SLEEP
decrease in physiologic functions.
Rest- implies calmness, relaxation w/out
emotional stress, & freedom from anxiety.
Sleep- an altered state of consciousness in w/c
the individual’s perception of & reaction to the
environment are decreased.
Physiology of Sleep
Biorhythms- (rhythmic biologic clocks) in
humans these are controlled from w/in the
body and synchronized w/ environmental
factors: light & darkness, gravity, &
electromagnetic stimuli.
Circadian Rhythm- the most familiar biorhythm.
From Latin circa dies, meaning “about a day.”
Circadian Synchronization- when a person’s
biologic clock coincides w/ sleep wake patterns
–the person is awake when the physiologic &
psychologic rhythms are most inactive.
Circadian regularity: begins by the third week
of life & may be inherited.
After 4 months of age: infants enter a 24- hour
cycle (sleep mostly during the night)
End of 5th/ 6th month: infants sleep wake
patterns are almost like those of adults.
Stages of Sleep
Electroencephalogram (EEG)- provides a good
picture of what occurs during sleep.
2 Types of Sleep:
1. NREM Sleep- is also referred to as slow-
wave sleep because the brain waves of
a sleeper are slower than the alpha
&beta waves of a person who is
awake/alert. It’s a sleep during a night,
and is deep, restful sleep & brings a
4 Stages:
Stage I- very light sleep.
-The person feels drowsy & relaxed
- Eyes roll from side to side
-Heart & respiratory rates drop slightly
-Lasts only a few minutes
Stage II- light deep during w/c body
processes continue to slow down.
-Eyes are generally still
-Heart &respiratory rate decrease
slightly
-Body temperature falls
-Lasts about 10-15 minutes but
constitutes 40%-45% of total sleep.
Stage III- domination of the
parasympathetic nervous system
causes:
-Heart & respiratory rates & others slow
further
-Sleepers become more difficult to
arouse
-Person is not disturbed by sensory
stimuli
-Skeletal muscles are very relaxed
-Reflexes are diminished
-Snoring may occur
Stage IV- signals deep sleep, called
delta sleep.
-sleeper’s heart &respiratory rates drop
20%-30% below those exhibited during
waking hours.
-sleeper is very relaxed, rarely moves,
difficult to arouse.
-eyes usually roll, some dreaming
occurs.
2. REM Sleep- recurs about every 90
minutes & lasts 5-30 minutes.
-Dreams take place and remembered,
they are consolidated in the memory.
-Brain is highly active & metabolism may
increase as much as 20%.
-Also called paradoxical sleep.
-Sleeper may be difficult to arouse/ may wake
spontaneously
-Muscle tone is depressed
-Gastric secretions increase
-Heart a& respiratory rates often irregular