Sleep and wakefulness represent remarkable yin-yang states of consciousness. Within every 24 hour period we naturally range from full, attentive wakefulness to deep slumber. One third of our lives is spent asleep, but far from being wasted time, sleep is critically important for maintaining the health and wellbeing of the brain and body. This is evidenced both by what happens when sleep is disrupted, and by the association of disrupted sleep with a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
In this online lecture, Associate Professor Laura Jacobson will address how sleep-wakefulness is measured and manipulated. She will provide a fascinating overview of the new “orexin receptor antagonist” class of sleep drugs, and the potential of sleep-wake manipulation to improve cognitive processes in a model of Alzheimer’s disease.
