Their emotional brain has virtually free reign, making their brain vulnerable to arousal during the deepest of sleep.Post-traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD) and other forms of traumatic stress can make life incredibly difficult and unpredictable. What’s more, people with trauma also have less and thinner nerve fibers, going from the front part of the cortex and their emotional brain that helps keep it in check, similarly to brakes on a car. The amygdala, which makes us feel trepidation and fear, is dancing with activity in those with trauma-and astonishingly, has often ballooned in size compared to those without trauma. Because of an aroused “emotional brain,” in particular an almond-like structure buried behind the ears called the amygdala, a person who has experienced trauma tends to pop in and out of sleep. People who experience trauma are more likely to wake up during deep sleep because their overall sleep architecture is fragmented. ![]() A recent study showed that patients with PTSD have more and longer awakenings than healthy people do-they simply cannot sustain their sleep. A striking example is those who’ve experienced trauma. Mental anguish is a major source of brain arousal which is difficult to switch off at night, known as nocturnal arousal. Stress can also trigger sleepwalking, or at least make it more frequent and severe in those with these genes. You’re also more than 5% as likely to experience it if your identical twin does (who shares 100% of your genes) versus your non-identical twin (who shares 50%). In fact, a person can experiences sleepwalking 10 times more frequently if a close family member (a so-called first-degree relative) also experiences it. While it is not known what exactly would trigger the brain to go into this odd sleep and awake state simultaneously, genes play a substantial role. This is why the sleeper can’t remember these sleepwalking expeditions. Interestingly, the memory region of the brain, a seahorse-like structure situated behind your ears, is shut off. Emotional brain centers and the lower part of the brain essential for a sense of balance are also turned on. The former explains why the sleeper is so uncontrolled, confused, and lacks total insight the latter why the person can move freely around. Neural neighborhoods important for logical thinking and self-awareness like the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (strips of cell tissue on the front sides of both brain hemispheres) remain napping while areas concerned with movement are widely awake. ![]() Indeed, this arousal results in the brain being awake and asleep at the same time-as if the world of sleep and wakefulness were colliding. But this architecture of deep sleep can sometimes, inadvertently, break down: arousal from the brain’s emotional headquarters, the so-called “limbic system,” can become hyperactive and tickle the cortex resting above it, causing it to partially awaken the person from the deep slumber. Unlike REM, the activity of the cortex during deep sleep-which sits on the outer layer of the brain, almost like a motorcycle helmet-is vastly slowed down. This transition is tightly controlled by chemicals released from the lower part of the brain that tilt you between sleep and wakefulness. To prevent you from acting out these REM dreams and hurting yourself, your brain temporarily paralyzes your entire body. We have our most crisp, life-like, and emotional dreams during REM sleep. If we eavesdrop on the activity of neurons during REM, they resemble those of wakefulness. The fourth stage, the so-called rapid-eye-movement sleep or “REM” sleep for short, is called “paradoxical sleep.” And for good reason: your blood pressure, heartbeat, and breathing quicken, and your brain waves speed up. Deep sleep is a form of restorative sleep, and oftentimes, it is difficult to awaken the sleeper. ![]() During this time, your neurons literally shrink allowing cerebral spinal fluid to bathe your brain and get rid of harmful toxins. These include releasing hormones to repair your skin, replenishing your cardiovascular and immune system, and creating new memories. ![]() But it’s in “deep sleep” (Stage 3) that your brain engages in critical housekeeping chores for your body. During “light sleep” (known as Stages 1 and 2) your heart rate and body temperature drop, a sort of transition phase between wakefulness and sleep. Each night, you go through 90-minute cycles of sleep, moving through unique stages.
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