Abstract
The fact remains that neurophysiologic factors in the central regulatory mechanism of sleep is still far from full understanding. Most of the postulations by various workers on the subject of sleep still appear to be more of speculative; there is no clear evidence to suggest that a particular neurotransmitter agent may mediate the proposed mechanism attribute to it in the mechanism of the transition between one stage of sleep and another. It was the aim of this review to identify the neurotransmitter systems variously implicated in the subject of sleep regulation and have featured more prominently in the reports of various researchers in recent past. The method of information gathering was adopted in this review and the sources of information included, published works of past and present researchers, articles on sleep in seminars, conference articles on sleep physiology, textbooks of current editions in neuroscience, lecture notes on neurophysiology and reports accessed from the Internet using search engines such as Google were also among the sources of information consulted etc. In conclusion, this review study have clearly highlighted the major neurotransmitter systems that have gained more prominent mention and featured more frequently in the works of most researchers and therefore can be said to be currently the more under study.
Highlights
In man and all other animals, sleep is believed to be essentially a behavioural state
One of the greatest challenges that have occupied the attention of most neuroscientists throughout the world today is ascertaining a full understanding of the neurophysiologic factors involved in the central regulatory mechanisms of sleep
Observations show that when the reticular cholinergic cells are sedated through the application of anaesthetics, the cortical arousal effects of reticular formation is eliminated (Ganong, 2005)
Summary
In man and all other animals, sleep is believed to be essentially a behavioural state. For the purpose of this review, one other explanation regards sleep as a naturally recurring state of relatively suspended sensory and motor activity in the animal, characterized by total or partial unconsciousness and nearly complete inactivity of voluntary muscles This later definition appears even more scientific and can be said to be more current explanation. Recent reports have further established the fact that sleep is not merely a state of neural quiescence; some workers have noted that brain activity are visibly altered following a period of lack of Formation, is shown by experimentation to induce arousal and EEG desynchronization when stimulated. The peribrachial area: Specific clusters of cholinergic neurons known as peribrachial area have been mapped out in the pons This region in the pons is characteristically believed to play important role in the activation of the rapid-eye-movement sleep stage (Addicott et al, 2009). Of the higher brain centers involved with emotions, learning and memory (probably the Limbic System)
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