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insomnia

·November 2, 2023·7 min read

Sleepless Nights: The Brain’s Surprising Reaction to All-Nighters

unveiled the science behind the buoyant mood many feel after acute sleep deprivation, like pulling an all-nighter. The study in mice showed that not only does dopamine release rise during these short periods without sleep, but the brain also rewires itself, enhancing synaptic plasticity for several days.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·October 25, 2023·3 min read

How Sleep Loss Amplifies Pain

Researchers discovered how sleep deprivation can exacerbate pain. Their study demonstrates that a neurotransmitter, N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA), decreases in a brain region called the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) due to sleep loss.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 20, 2023·5 min read

Linking Sleep Deficits to Depression

Researchers find a connection between consistently sleeping less than five hours nightly and an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. Initially believed that poor sleep was a mere side effect of mental illness, the study suggests sleep might precede the onset of depression.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 2, 2023·6 min read

Sleep Struggles Link to Elevated Risk of Hypertension

Researchers have found a notable link between insomnia symptoms and hypertension in women. Drawing from a 16-year study involving over 66,000 participants, the study showed women with sleep difficulties were more prone to high blood pressure.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 14, 2023·5 min read

Sleep’s Secret Lives: Navigating the Mystery of Arousal Disorders

Arousal disorders, including the mysterious actions of sexsomnia, sleepwalking, and sleep terrors, remain a significant gray area in sleep medicine. A new study reveals that unlike other sleep disorders, arousal disorders lack consensus treatment guidelines.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 6, 2023·5 min read

Insomnia Drug May Ward Off Opioid Relapse

A recent study highlights a new benefit of quality sleep: deterring opioid relapse. In the study, rats undergoing oxycodone withdrawal received an experimental insomnia treatment.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 6, 2023·7 min read

Sleep Deprivation May Dull Benefits of Exercise on Cognition

Not getting sufficient sleep could offset the cognitive benefits gained from regular physical activity. Researchers studied cognitive function over 10 years in nearly 9000 English people aged 50 and over.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 10, 2023·4 min read

Unlocking Memory Secrets: The Surprising Power of Sleep & Dreams

Recent neuroscience studies underscore the profound impact of sleep and sleep disorders on memory. Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, selectively preserving relevant memories while discarding non-essential ones. However, sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome, can significantly hinder this process, leading to memory impairments. These insights highlight the need for effective treatment strategies to ensure cognitive health.

This shows a clock and a person sleeping.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 16, 2023·4 min read

Clock-Watching Worsens Insomnia

Monitoring time while trying to sleep can exacerbate insomnia and increase the use of sleep aids. The study involved nearly 5,000 patients from a sleep clinic, and found that the stress of estimating sleep durations significantly impeded the ability to fall asleep.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 15, 2023·4 min read

Probiotic Supplementation Reduces Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Caused by Chronic Sleep Loss

Probiotics have recently attracted increasing interest for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers tested the ability of probiotics to contrast oxidative stress and inflammation induced by sleep loss. Findings concluded that probiotic supplementation could be a positive strategy to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation promoted by sleep loss.

This is a drawing of a woman laying in bed

Featured Neuroscience

·April 12, 2023·4 min read

Decoding Insomnia: Machine Learning Model Predicts Sleep Disorders From Patient Records

Analyzing demographics, lifestyle data, physical exam results, and laboratory values, a new machine-learning algorithm can accurately predict whether a person is at risk of sleep disorders. Age, weight, and depression are three factors the AI technology identified as being significant predictors of insomnia.