brain

Use the power of sleep to stay mentally flexible and receptive

22. February 2017 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

Scientists of the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Freiburg, Germany, have found out that during sleep the activity of the synapses is reduced for the most part resp. completely degraded. Only essential connections remain. The findings have been published in the journal “Nature Communications”.

During daytime, we absorb impressions and information. The more active we are the more active our brain must be, new synapses are formed resp. already existing synapses are strengthened. According to Christoph Nissen, director of studies, they succeeded in proving that during sleep the synapse-activity is reduced. This flexibility between activity and passivity – called “synaptic plasticity” – is basis for effective learning and flexible information processing. It makes room and creates energy to gather and process new information.

This regulation is not working when we are suffering under a lack of sleep due to sleep disturbances or insufficient sleep hygiene. As a result, our brain gets downright overloaded. The arising interruption of the natural regulation process leads to a lack of space and energy needed for strengthening and for new formation of synapses. Thus, learning and processing of information are difficult.

During daytime, the intensity of synapse activity increases, during sleep it reduces. If you lack sleep this natural circle is interrupted. Due to the so-called homeostatic plasticity (guarantee of permanent stimuli-procession), our synapses are very active during wakefulness. If we deprive our brain of the opportunity to “turn off” we are weakening the already existing synapses. Because, the incoming new stimuli must be processed, too. The scientists assume that all brain functions are affected by this – not only learning and solidifying but also concentration and regulation of our emotions.

Receive further information in our sleep-healthy-guidebook “sleep yourself young, fit and successful”, free of cost.

Source: derstandard.at/2000043266985/Weg-damit-Unser-Gehirn-mistet-im-Schlaf-aus?ref=rec

Study: Sleep recalibrates homeostatic and associative synaptic plasticity in the human cortex

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Rest for restlessly working brain

21. February 2017 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

Permanent availability, flood of information, performance pressure – just some toll taking examples of everyday requirements. Burnout might be one consequence; a brain constantly working at full blast another one.

Disturbances to fall asleep and to sleep through

It’s hard for our brain to relax when our system is under permanent strain. Restful sleep and time for relaxation remain an unreachable dream when our thoughts constantly circle around. Often you have the feeling of lying awake in bed for hours, even for nights. But, measurements in the laboratory reveal that people concerned actually are sleeping but their head keeps “spinning around”. The very unwelcome hyperactivity can be verified via EEG; here, beta- and gamma-waves become clearly visible. These waves are signs for wakefulness and high performance. It is hardly surprising that no pleasant nor vitalizing sleep occurs.

Music Medicine is a possible remedy

SAMINA and Sanoson developed in cooperation a simple yet welcome support: the SAMINA SoundLife Sleep System^® pillow. Relax, unwind, bring peace to your body and mind – all these things automatically happen thanks to the innovative music medicine and the cozy pillow made of sheep wool. 20 years of research combine high tech, neurologically effective tone sequences, specially composed sounds and compositions packed in natural, biologic materials; electro-biologically optimized and free of any interference zones.

Sanoson music medicine is a natural approach that quickly brings harmony to the axis of nervous-system/heart/brain. Stress and accumulated negative emotions virtually dissolve by itself. A healthy and sleep enhancing well-being arises. Almost like holidays for our stressed brain!

Receive further information in our sleep-healthy-guidebook “sleep yourself young, fit and successful”, free of cost.

Imagesource: @shutterstock

Our brain keeps precise records

13. December 2016 von Schlafexperte Prof. Dr. med. h.c. Günther W. Amann-Jennson Leave a Comment

Scientists of Stanford University made a huge discovery: our brain keeps precise record on how much sleep we are lacking. A simple test revealed this impressively: ten volunteers slept only five hours per night for seven nights. Here, it became clear that the tendency to fall asleep increased progressively every following day. Thus it was able to prove that the effects of a sleep loss are added up each following night. That means that the force of the tendency to fall asleep increased progressively on every following night with the exact same hours of sleep per night. Lost hours of sleep automatically add up. Most important: this enhanced sleep tendency did not decrease during the day without any additional sleep.

Therefore, it is concluded that the accumulated sleep deficit has to be “paid back” in form of sleep, possibly even hour by hour. This exactly is the reason why we for example should sleep eleven hours (eight hours + lost three hours) after a night with three hours of sleep loss to be awake and vigilant during the day.

Avoid chronic sleep deficit

So, over several nights a sleep debt possibly might be slightly increased night by night. Let’s take a five-day-workweek, for example. Here, instead of sleeping the needed eight hours you only sleep six per night which leads to a sleep debt of ten (five times two).

Taken this into consideration you would have to sleep until 5 p.m. on Saturday to agree the balance. Actually, this is hardly possible – practice has shown that we are going to sleep about one or two hours more and that we feel more rested afterwards.

But, the level of the deficit still is at the same height. Our inner clock demands compensation. More and more you will feel this chronic sleep debt during the day. And, if you once lose even more sleep due to “social or work obligations” you are going to be not only tired and sleepy but your energy will constantly decrease.

The physical-mental power decreases, our well-being and our mental stability suffer. Sooner or later, this vicious circle leads to a disturbance of sleep: you will be too tired and weak to be able to have a restful sleep.

Receive further information in our sleep-healthy-guidebook “sleep yourself young, fit and successful”, free of cost.

Imagesource: @fotolia