Transcript Sleep - psychlotron.org.uk

Sleep
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Studies of sleep deprivation
Explanations of sleep
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Restoration theory
Ecological theory
Implications of sleep deprivation studies for
these theories
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Sleep deprivation
Rechtschaffen & Bergman (1995)
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Increased appetite, metabolism imply body
working harder
Immune function starts failing under prolonged
deprivation
Suggests sleep necessary for normal
biological functioning
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Sleep deprivation
Webb & Bonnett (1979a)
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No obvious physiological effects following
restricted sleep
Tendency to recover missed sleep the following
night
‘Rebound’ suggests that sleep is a necessary
function
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Sleep deprivation
Webb & Bonnet (1979b)
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No apparent physiological effects following
gradual reduction in sleep to 4hrs
Implies that some of our sleep is optional
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Sleep deprivation
Individual case studies
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Wide variety of effects from mild to severe imply
broad individual differences
Effects may be from sleep deprivation or possible
pre-existing pathology
Difficult to generalise from single cases
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