Briefly describe what Narcolepsy and Sleep-walking are?

Narcolepsy = sudden, uncontrollable attacks of sleep at unexpected times.

Sleep-walking = Person is partly awake and partly asleep but no conscious knowledge of own activity.

What are the 3 explanations of Narcolepsy?

REM

HLA

Hypocretin

How might REM sleep cause Narcolepsy?

(5 points)

1/ Classic symptom of narcolespy is loss of muscle tone (cataplexy).

2/ This is similar to what happens during REM sleep.

3/ Intrusions of REM type sleep in the day (hallucinations).

4/ Abnormal REM sleep at night.

5/ Therefore narcolepsy is caused by a malfunction in the system regulating REM sleep.

How might HLA cause Narcolepsy?

(2 points)

1/ Narcolepsy linked to a mutation in the immune system.

2/ HLA molecules found on white blood cells surfaces co-ordinate the immune system response.

How might Hypocretin cause Narcolepsy?

(3 points)

1/ Narcolepsy linked to a neurotransmitter.

2/ Hypocretin neurotransmitters regulate sleep through interaction with the systems which regulate emotion/homeostasis in the brain.

3/ In Narcoleptics, hypocretin levels are low.

Name 2 Psychologists supporting explanations of 

Narcolepsy?

(Initials: V, N)

Vogel

Nishino et al.

Why does Vogel support explanations of Narcolepsy?

Observed REM sleep at onset of sleep in narcoleptic patients, rather than later in the cycle which is the norm.

Why does Nishino et al. support explanations of Narcolepsy?

Found lower levels of Hypocretins in cerebrospinal fluids of narcoleptics.

What are the 3 main explanations/points relating to

Sleep-walking?

Incomplete Arousal

Risk Factors

Why Children?

Describe Incomplete Arousal in relation to Sleep-Walking?

Person is partly awake (engaging in normal waking activities) but also asleep (SWS deep sleep) and not easily awoken.

Display delta waves typical of SWS as well as beta waves typical of an awake person.

Describe 5 risk factors for Sleep-walkers?

Sleep deprivation

Alcohol

Fever

Stress disorders

Hormonal changes during puberty

Why is sleep-walking more common in children?

Children have more SWS than adults and also their SWS systems may be under developed.

Name a Psychologist supporting explanations of

Sleep-walking and a model?

(Initials: B, DSM)

Broughton

Diathesis stress model

Why does Broughton support explanations for Sleep-walking?

Found that those whose relatives also experience

sleep-walking, are 10x more likely to also experience it.

Outline the Diathesis Stress Model?

Proposes that genes provide a vulnerability for the disorder but the disorder will only occur in situations of environmental stress. Explains why children tend to more commonly experience sleep-walking as their higher levels of SWS act as the vulnerability.