Skip to main content

Dynamic NREM Sleep Regulation Models

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

In this chapter we provide an overview about those NREM sleep ­regulation models which take into consideration the effects of external and internal input factors apparently unrelated to the core sleep regulatory mechanisms but deeply influencing their dynamism. McCarley and Massaquoi (J Sleep Res 1(2):132–137, 1992) have begun to incorporate the influence of external noise according to the observations showing frequent brief nonbehavioral EEG and ­polygraphic “awakenings” in sleep. Lo et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101(50):17545–1758, 2004) studying brief sleep-wake transitions were able to show that these events can be commonly observed across different species with different sleep patterns. The universality of the distributions of short wake episodes strikingly contrasts the species-specific distributions of sleep bouts. Lo concludes that this relationship reveals a universal regulatory mechanism shaping the dynamism of sleep. Behn et al. (J Neurophysiol 97(6):3828–3840, 2007) created a model of sleep-wake network composed of coupled relaxation oscillation equations. This model could be considered as a crucial one in trying to explain the dual nature of sleep-regulation: gross sleep-wake regulatory mechanisms depending on the already described neural circuitry of the flip-flop switch and fine structure shaped by short bouts of wakefulness. We have hypothesized a parallel regulation of sleep in our model (Halász et al. J Sleep Res 13(1):1–23, 2004). Tonic processes were hypothesized to involve mainly intracerebral, slow, and chemical influences, while the phasic ones extracerebral, fast, and neuronal-synaptic ones tailoring the interaction of the reciprocal antagonistic influence between the sleep and arousal centers depicted in the flip-flop model of Saper et al. (Trends Neurosci. 24(12):726–731, 2001). The specificity of our model relied in the differential analysis of the descending and ascending slopes of the sleep cycles, which are usually undifferentiated in current models of sleep regulation.

Keywords

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Behn CG, Brown EN, Scammell TE, Kopell NJ. Mathematical model of network dynamics governing mouse sleep-wake behavior. J Neurophysiol. 2007;97(6):3828–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bohlin G. Monotonous stimulation, sleep onset and habituation of the orienting reaction. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1971;31(6):593–601.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borbély AA. A two process model of sleep regulation. Hum Neurobiol. 1982;1(3):195–204.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daan S, Beersma DG. Borbély AATiming of human sleep: recovery process gated by a circadian pacemaker Am J Physiol. 1984;246(2 Pt 2):R161–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dijk DJ, Kronauer RE. Commentary: models of sleep regulation: successes and continuing ­challenges. J Biol Rhythms. 1999;14(6):569–73.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halász P. Arousals without awakening – dynamic aspect of sleep. Physiol Behav. 1993;54(4):795–802.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halász P. The role of the non-specific sensory activation in sleep regulation and in the pathomechanism of generalized epilepsy with generalized spike-wave discharge. Doctoral thesis, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest; 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halász P, Terzano M, Parrino L, Bódizs R. The nature of arousal in sleep. J Sleep Res. 2004;13(1):1–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirshkowitz M. Arousals and anti-arousals. Sleep Med. 2002;3(3):203–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lo CC, Chou T, Penzel T, Scammell TE, Strecker RE, Stanley HE, et al. Common scale-invariant patterns of sleep-wake transitions across mammalian species. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2004;101(50):17545–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarley RW, Hobson JA. Neuronal excitability modulation over the sleep cycle: a structural and mathematical model. Science. 1975;189(4196):58–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarley RW, Massaquoi SG. Neurobiological structure of the revised limit cycle reciprocal interaction model of REM cycle control. J Sleep Res. 1992;1(2):132–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oswald I. Falling asleep open-eyed during intense rhythmic stimulation. Br Med J. 1960;1(5184):1450–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saper CB, Chou TC, Scammell TE. The sleep switch: hypothalamic control of sleep and wakefulness. Trends Neurosci. 2001;24(12):726–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saper CB, Fuller PM, Pedersen NP, Lu J, Scammell TE. Sleep state switching. Neuron. 2010;68(6):1023–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schieber JP, Muzet A, Ferriere PJ. Phases of spontaneous transitory activation during normal sleep in humans. Arch Sci Physiol (Paris). 1971;25(4):443–65.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb WB, Agnew Jr HW. Sleep onset facilitation by tones. Sleep. 1979;1(3):281–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Halász, P., Bódizs, R. (2013). Dynamic NREM Sleep Regulation Models. In: Dynamic Structure of NREM Sleep. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4333-8_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4333-8_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4332-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4333-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics