Sleep disorder

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.

Industry: Health care

Add a new term

Contributors in Sleep disorder

Become a Contributors

Sleep disorder

melatonin

Health care; Sleep disorder

A hormone secreted by the pineal gland that is derived from the amino acid tryptophan, which helps synchronize biological clock neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

Health care; Sleep disorder

A machine that helps a person who has apnea breathe more easily during sleep by sending blowing air at a constant, continuous pressure. During sleep, CPAP patients wear a face mask connected to a ...

electroencephalogram (EEG)

Health care; Sleep disorder

A measurement of the electrical activity associated with brain activity. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain. Clinically EEG refers to ...

electromyogram (EMG)

Health care; Sleep disorder

A measurement of the electrical activity associated with muscle movements. EMG is often performed using an instrument called an electromyograph, to produce a record called an electromyogram. An ...

electrooculogram (EOG)

Health care; Sleep disorder

A measurement of the electrical activity or resting potential associated with eye movements. The resulting signal is called the electrooculogram. Unlike the electroretinogram, the EOG does not ...

photoreceptor

Health care; Sleep disorder

A molecule or structure that can detect light by capturing photons.

non-REM sleep (NREM)

Health care; Sleep disorder

A normal part of sleep accounting for typically 75-80% of sleep time. Characterized by slower and larger brain waves than in REM. By larger, we mean greater amplitude in the EEG output.