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Insomnia: Neurophysiological and NeuropsychologicalApproaches

Neuropsychology Review volume 21, pages 22–40 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Insomnia is a symptom, a syndrome and a comorbid disorder. Its diagnosis relies on subjective reports from the afflicted individual and is defined as difficulties in initiating sleep, maintaining sleep, waking up too early or non-restorative sleep. However, insomnia and especially, primary insomnia, has received much attention in insomnia research with the use of objective measures. Insomnia, its peculiarities, most frequent subtypes and two most prominent models will first be briefly introduced. Then, insomnia will be reviewed according to results obtained with the use of neurophysiological measures as basic/traditional as polysomnography to more sophisticated ones such as power spectral analysis, neuroimaging, cyclic alternating patterns and event-related potentials. In addition, a review of the discrepancies between subjective and objective reports of cognitive alterations through neuropsychological testing is offered. The need to combine measures is then highlighted in conclusion.

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Abbreviations

APA:

American Psychiatric Association

ARAS:

Ascending Reticular Activating System

BZD (BZDs):

Benzodiazepine (Benzodiazepines)

CAP:

Cyclic Alternating Pattern

CBT-I:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

CNS:

Central Nervous System

EEG:

Electroencephalogram

EKG:

Electrocardiogram

EMG:

Electromyogram

EOG:

Electrooculogram

ERPs:

Event-Related Potentials

FFT:

Fast Fourier Transforms

fMRI:

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

GABA:

Gamma-aminobutyric acid

LORETA:

Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography Analysis

N100 (N1):

Negative wave peaking at about 100 ms after stimulus onset

N350:

Negative wave peaking at about 350 ms after stimulus onset

NCAP:

Non-Cyclic Alternating Pattern

NREM:

Non Rapid Eye Movement

P50:

Positive wave peaking at about 50 ms after stimulus onset

P200 (P2):

Positive wave peaking at about 200 ms after stimulus onset

P300 (P3):

Positive wave peaking at about 300 ms after stimulus onset

PET:

Positron Emission Tomography

PSA:

Power Spectral Analysis

PSG:

Polysomnography

REM:

Rapid Eye Movement

SPECT:

Single-Photon-EmissionComputed Tomography

SWA:

Slow Wave Activity

SWS:

Slow Wave Sleep

TMS:

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

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  1. École de Psychologie, FAS-Local 1012, 2325, rue des Bibliothèques, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada, G1V 0A6

    Célyne H. Bastien

  2. Laboratoire de Neurosciences Comportementales Humaines, Institut de Recherche en Santé Mentale, Centre de Recherche Université Laval Robert-Giffard, Québec, QC, Canada

    Célyne H. Bastien

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Bastien, C.H. Insomnia: Neurophysiological and NeuropsychologicalApproaches. Neuropsychol Rev 21, 22–40 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-011-9160-3

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Keywords

  • Insomnia
  • Subtypes
  • PSG
  • Neurophysiological measures