Understanding the Impact of Stress on Sleep Quality: Research Findings Revealed

2023-12-15 09:00:48

When stress is extreme, certain neurons in the brain’s hypothalamus go into overdrive.

Entered 2023.12.15 18:00 Views 31 Entered 2023.12.15 18:00 Modified 2023.12.15 13:56 Views 31

Even if you are stressed frequently, your body goes into emergency mode. In relation to this, research has shown that the phenomenon of waking up for more than 10 seconds during sleep becomes excessive when you are stressed. [사진= 게티이미지뱅크]We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping. You need to sleep well, both quantitatively and qualitatively, so that it does not affect your daily life and allows you to carry out normal activities during the day. For this reason, insomnia often comes to mind when we think of ‘sleep disorders,’ but surprisingly, there are many different sleep disorders. In particular, even if you are stressed frequently, your body goes into an emergency. In relation to this, research has shown that the phenomenon of waking up for more than 10 seconds during sleep becomes excessive when you are stressed.

On the 13th (local time), a research team led by Professor Chung Shin-jae of the Department of Neuroscience at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania published a paper like this in the international academic journal Current Biology. The research team found that when certain ‘brain switches’ become excessively activated due to stress. The interpretation is that repeating ‘slumbering’, waking up and sleeping again, can lead to fatigue and decreased mood as well as cognitive impairment. The research team discovered the results through animal experiments using rats, and predicted that if a similar phenomenon is confirmed in humans, a new method to improve sleep quality may be developed.

First, the research team monitored the brain activity of 21 rats while they slept to find out why stress affects sleep. In particular, the activity of neurons (major cells of the nervous system) was recorded in the ‘preoptic area of ​​the hypothalamus’ (POA) in the brain, which is important in sleep regulation.

As a result, ‘Glutamatergic Neurons’ were activated in the POA during momentary awakening during sleep. These glutamatergic neurons produce glutamate, one of the excitatory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS). .

In other words, this means that stress activates glutamatergic neurons, makes the brain active, and disrupts sleep. This eventually leads to waking up repeatedly while sleeping. The brief awakening time during sleep is less than 20 seconds and people are barely aware of it, but it is interpreted that it has a significant impact on emotions and cognitive abilities during daily life.

In relation to this, the research team explained, “Sleep disorders are harmful to human behavior and emotional health,” and “If you are under a lot of stress, brief awakenings during sleep become frequent, resulting in sleep fragmentation.”

The research team said, “Suppressing POA glutamatergic neurons can reduce sleep disruption caused by stress,” and “The results of this study mean that POA excitatory neurons are a circuit that regulates sleep quality after stress, and controlling them in the future can improve sleep quality.” “I hope we can improve,” he said.

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