Sleep spindles

Sleep spindles are bursts of brain activity visible on an EEG that occur during the stage of light sleep known as stage 2. They are called sleep spindles because of their distinct shape on the EEG: they start with a sudden increase in frequency, followed by a gradual decrease.

Characteristics

Sleep spindles are typically 0.5 seconds to 2 seconds long and occur every 3 to 10 minutes. They are most common in the first two hours of sleep and decrease in frequency as the night progresses. They are generated in the thalamic reticular nucleus and are thought to play a role in sleep regulation, memory consolidation, and brain plasticity.

Function

The exact function of sleep spindles is not fully understood, but they are thought to play a role in several important processes. One theory is that they help to suppress cortical arousal in response to external stimuli, helping to maintain sleep. Another theory is that they are involved in memory consolidation, particularly for procedural and declarative memories. They may also play a role in brain plasticity, helping to reorganize and strengthen neural connections.

Clinical significance

Abnormal sleep spindle activity has been linked to several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer's disease. In these conditions, sleep spindles may be reduced in number or show abnormal patterns. This has led to interest in using sleep spindle activity as a potential biomarker for these conditions.

See also

• Sleep
• Electroencephalography
• Thalamus
• Memory consolidation
• Brain plasticity

References

Sleep spindles Resources
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