Sleep wake cycle

1. Lesson 5:
Sleep/wake cycles across the lifespan

2. Outcomes (What you need to know and
be able to do)
• Identify the shift in sleep-wake cycles
during adolescence, adulthood
(including elderly) and infancy
• Explain reasons for the Sleep–wake
cycle shift during adolescence
• Discuss impact of Sleep–wake cycle
shift during adolescence

4. Patterns of Sleep
An adult sleeps for approximately 8 hrs per night progressing through cycles of about 1.5
hours. Periods of deep sleep (NREM4) occur earlier in the night, and periods of REM sleep occur,
on average every 90 minutes.
Adults experience a total of 1-2 hours REM sleep a night, in 4-5 sessions, each progressing in
length.
The period of total REM sleep lessons as individuals get older. A newborn spends approximately
50% of total time in REM sleep compared to an adult who spends approximately 20% of their
time in REM sleep.

5. Sleep pattern shifts over the lifespan
~Most people your age get about 8 hours
~Research shows that adolescents need 9 or 10 hours
~Many people report not being able to get to sleep
quickly, not getting enough sleep and difficulty getting
up in the morning
~Biological factors – rhythms – regulate when we sleep
and wake through the release of hormones that make us
tired
~Our sleep-wake cycle is called a circadian rhythm – this
means about a day

6. So why are you tired?
During adolescence your sleep-wake cycle is shifted biologically
(through the release of hormones) to make you require about 2
hours more sleep!
But our school and work day does not really allow for this!
As we consistently get less than optimum sleep we create a sleep
debt – this compounds like a fine you haven't payed – it gets bigger
and bigger
As a result you try to catch up on the weekend! But then you go to
bed later and compound the problem!
Research shows that less than 8 hours has a negative impact on
cognitive function - See sleep deprivation lesson :-)

7. Watch Video Clip -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=v9Nd6u39yD0

8. Quick Activity
- You have 5 min to complete the following
task
- Using a concept map explain why
adolescence tend to suffer more
frequently from sleep deprivation then
other age groups.
- Try to use as many psychological
concepts as possible