The slides are a final course work for Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life, produced by the University of Chicago, lectured by Dr. Peggy Mason, Ph.D.

1. JUAN CARLOS MUNERA MONTOYA
NARCOLEPSY
Final course work
Understanding the Brain: The
Neurobiology of Everyday Life
The University of Chicago
ALLPPT.com _ Free PowerPoint Templates, Diagrams and Charts

2. NARCOLEPSY
In a comic way Rowan Atkinson
plays the role of a man affected by
narcolepsy in the film:
Rat Race (2001).
A disorder characterized by
repeatedly falling into deep,
refreshing sleep during waking
hours and occasions of complete loss
of muscle tone and the intrusion of
rapid eye movement sleep into the
transition between sleep and waking.
(Matsumoto, David. The Cambridge Dictionary of psychology. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2009. p. 326).
IMAGE SOURCE: https://thebetteryou2016.wordpress.com/2016
/02/14/what-you-should-know-about-dating-a-narcoleptic/

3. NARCOLEPSY CAUSES
The clear cause of this disorder is still unknown. Several factors may
produce it such as the loss of orexin (hypocretin) which is a protein-like
(neuropeptide) produced by neurons to communicate among them. The
neurons which produced them are located in the lateral hypothalamus.
Orexin helps in the regulation of appetite, metabolism, wakefulness,
analgesic, reproduction and other brain functions. The loss of neurons
producing orexin can cause narcolepsy.
IMAGE SOURCE: http://www.avisshealth.com/medical-service-items/narcolepsy/

4. NARCOLEPSY AND HOMEOSTASIS
Professor Peggy Mason defines homeostasis in our course
as how we keep our body within physiological limits.
Indeed, homeostasis is the self-regulation of an equilibrium
in any physiological, biological, social, psychological, or
ecological system.
(Matsumoto, David. The Cambridge Dictionary of psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2009. p. 236).
IMAGE SOURCE: https://jcrochac.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/homeostasis/

5. NERVOUS SYSTEM AND NARCOLEPSY
The process of homeostasis covers thermoregulation,
emptying the bladder, breathing, and sleep/wake cycle.
The hypothhalamus makes part of the diancephalon and
contributes to the process of homeostasis and sleep cycles or
the circadian rythm.
IMAGE SOURCE: http://sleepdisorders.sleepfoundation.org/chapter-1-normal-sleep/neurobiology-of-sleep/

6. NERVOUS SYSTEM AT PLAY
- Sleep and wakefulness
is regulated by two forces:
the circadian rhythm and
homeostasis influences.
This happens in a period
of 24 hours.IMAGE SOURCE: http
s://www.istockphoto.
com/es/vector/oppo
site-wordcard-with-
word-sleeping-and-a
wake-gm658964968-
120315343
- Several parts of the nervous system are at play: the
brain stem, the hypothalamus, thalamus and the forebrain
- Circadian rhythm controls the neurocircuitry of wake urge.
While homeostasis influences generates sleep effects. These two
can inhibit each other, giving rise to a switch between waking and
sleeping.
However, other external influences can affect them.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.howsleepwor
ks.com/how_twoprocess.html

7. Narcolepsy can ocurr when there is orexin loss,
homeostasis failure and the
circadian rythm is perturbated.
IMAGE SOURCE: http://3rxiuf34c6812zu916107ws7-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/now/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/01/narc.jpg

8. IMPORTANCE OF
NEUROSCIENCE INSIGHTS
- Knowing the anatomy and physiology of the brain can
help us to understand important elements in relation to a
disorder such as narcolepsy
- The human brain is a marvelous and complex organ
- Its study has helped and still can help us to understand functions,
mental structures, relations, effects and try to tackle problems
and disorders
- Narcolepsy can affect between 0,01 and 0,09 % of the
whole world population
- It possibly affects over 200 thousand people in United
States of America
- It is almost widespread as Parkinson and multiple sclerosis
- It should not be confused with depression, epilepsy or
medications’ side effects.
- Medications can help to treat the disorder as well as conducting
a healthy life style and changes in daily life habits.

9. RESOURCES
- Matsumoto, David. The Cambridge Dictionary of psychology. C
ambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. p. 236, 326.
- Scripts and videos from course (Peggy Mason, Ph.D.
-National Sleep Foundation
Chapter 1: Normal Sleep, Neurobiology of Sleep
http://sleepdisorders.sleepfoundation.org/chapter-1-normal-sleep/
neurobiology-of-sleep/
-Wikipedia