Sleep spindle: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Stage2sleep.svg|thumb|right|300px]] |
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A '''sleep spindle''' is a burst of brain activity visible on an [[Electroencephalography|EEG]] that occurs during [[Sleep#Physiology|stage 2 sleep]]. It consists of 12-14 Hz waves that occur for at least 0.5 seconds.<ref>Rechtschaffen, A; Kales, A (1968). A Manual of Standardized Terminology, Techniques and Scoring System For Sleep Stages of Human Subjects. US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare; National Institutes of Health.</ref> |
A '''sleep spindle''' is a burst of brain activity visible on an [[Electroencephalography|EEG]] that occurs during [[Sleep#Physiology|stage 2 sleep]]. It consists of 12-14 Hz waves that occur for at least 0.5 seconds.<ref>Rechtschaffen, A; Kales, A (1968). A Manual of Standardized Terminology, Techniques and Scoring System For Sleep Stages of Human Subjects. US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare; National Institutes of Health.</ref> <ref>De Gennaro, L., Ferrara, M. (2003). Sleep spindles: an overview. Sleep medicine reviews, 7(5), 423-440.</ref> |
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==Function== |
==Function== |
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Revision as of 14:11, 2 November 2010
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2010) |
A sleep spindle is a burst of brain activity visible on an EEG that occurs during stage 2 sleep. It consists of 12-14 Hz waves that occur for at least 0.5 seconds.[1] [2]
Function
Sleep spindles (sometimes referred to as sigma bands or sigma waves) may represent periods where the brain is inhibiting processing to keep the sleeper in a tranquil state. Along with K-complexes they are defining characteristics of NREM (Non-REM) Stage II sleep. Sleep spindles indicate the onset of NREM (Non-REM) II sleep. They are often tapered at both ends and frequently seen over the frontal and central head regions. They may or may not be synchronous, but they should be symmetrical and bilateral.
During sleep these spindles are seen in the brain as a burst of activity immediately following muscle twitching. Researchers think the brain, particularly in the young, is learning about what nerves control what specific muscles when asleep.[3][4]
Sleep spindles result from interactions between cells in the thalamus and the cortex.
Sleep spindle activity has furthermore found to be associated with the integration of new information into existing knowledge. [5]
References
- ^ Rechtschaffen, A; Kales, A (1968). A Manual of Standardized Terminology, Techniques and Scoring System For Sleep Stages of Human Subjects. US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare; National Institutes of Health.
- ^ De Gennaro, L., Ferrara, M. (2003). Sleep spindles: an overview. Sleep medicine reviews, 7(5), 423-440.
- ^ "To sleep, perchance to twitch"
- ^ "Wiring your brain at college – a new perspective on sleep"
- ^ Tamminen, J., Payne, J. D., Stickgold, R., Wamsley, E. J., Gareth Gaskell, M. (2010). Sleep spindle activity is associated with the integration of new memories and existing knowledge. The jounrnal of neuroscience, 30(43), 14356-14360