Reflection: Writing this paper was very challenging yet interesting as the brain mechanism behind sleep and insomnia is very complex. In order to better this complex mechanism, we first need to understand the two processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle, the circadian rhythm controls alertness, wakefulness level and it is regulated by the internal biological or circadian clock. Indeed, the circadian clock controls how much melatonin the body makes. Melatonin is a hormone known to trigger sleep. The Melatonin level increases in the mid-to late evening and remains high during the night. Thus, insomnia can be associated with the disruption of the circadian clock. Indeed, environmental factors such as noise, extreme temperatures,
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Indeed, the process of sleep and wakefulness is regulated by the hypothalamus, brainstem, and basal forebrain, also, they are part of the arousal system. Individuals with insomnia have a high cerebral metabolism in these areas during non-REM sleep. However, the cerebral metabolic rate decreases among individual with no insomnia during non-REM sleep. Accordingly, insomnia is due to the failure of the general arousing system to decline in activity from waking to sleep states. Moreover, I found out that some regions of the brain responsible for emotion (amygdala, hippocampus) and cognition (prefrontal cortex) were at some degrees involved the wake-sleep cycle. Besides, one of the studies that I investigated suggests that the reduced waking metabolism in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus is associated with sleep deprivation. However, their implications with insomnia are poorly understood and remained subject to further investigations. In addition, I learned that damages in left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex caused insomnia. This is a surprising discovery because the left dorsomedial cortex is not involved with sleep and wakefulness. It allows individuals to create a sense a self and to understand people’ mind. This has nothing to do with the wake –sleep cycle. This finding demonstrates that damages in some areas of the brain
Indeed, the process of sleep and wakefulness is regulated by the hypothalamus, brainstem, and basal forebrain, also, they are part of the arousal system. Individuals with insomnia have a high cerebral metabolism in these areas during non-REM sleep. However, the cerebral metabolic rate decreases among individual with no insomnia during non-REM sleep. Accordingly, insomnia is due to the failure of the general arousing system to decline in activity from waking to sleep states. Moreover, I found out that some regions of the brain responsible for emotion (amygdala, hippocampus) and cognition (prefrontal cortex) were at some degrees involved the wake-sleep cycle. Besides, one of the studies that I investigated suggests that the reduced waking metabolism in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus is associated with sleep deprivation. However, their implications with insomnia are poorly understood and remained subject to further investigations. In addition, I learned that damages in left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex caused insomnia. This is a surprising discovery because the left dorsomedial cortex is not involved with sleep and wakefulness. It allows individuals to create a sense a self and to understand people’ mind. This has nothing to do with the wake –sleep cycle. This finding demonstrates that damages in some areas of the brain