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Sleep disorder

The disturbance of normal sleep patterns caused by a broad range of illnesses, including dysfunctional sleep mechanisms, abnormalities in physiological functions during sleep, abnormalities of the biological clock, and sleep disturbances that are induced by factors extrinsic to the sleep process.

Contributors in Sleep disorder

Sleep disorder

orexin

Health care; Sleep disorder

Protein neurotransmitter or neuropeptide active in the sleep cycle and in appetite. Peptide family comprised of two peptides, orexin-A (hypocretin-1) and orexin-B (hypocretin-2). Subject of ...

homeostatic regulation of sleep

Health care; Sleep disorder

Refers to the neurobiological signals mediating the pressure or urge to sleep.

circadian rhythm

Health care; Sleep disorder

Related to exhibiting approximately 24-hours, especially to fluctuation of behavioral and physiological functions, including insomnia.

nocturnal

Health care; Sleep disorder

Relating to or taking place at night. This is used to describe an animal behavior characterized by activity during the night and sleeping during the day.

REM period

Health care; Sleep disorder

REM portion of a NREM-REM cycle; early in the night it may be as short as a half-minute, whereas in later cycles longer than an hour.

endogenous rhythms

Health care; Sleep disorder

Rhythms driven by an internal, self-sustaining biological clock rather than by signals that are external to the organism (for example, light).

exogenous rhythms

Health care; Sleep disorder

Rhythms that are directly regulated by an external influence, such as an environmental cue. They are not generated internally by the organism itself.

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