Word: sleeps
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...researchers found that there were drastic chemical differences between a sleeping and a waking brain. When a person is not asleep, one of the two groups of neurons in Hobson's model, called aminergic neurons, processes the hormones norepinephrine and seretonin, which can control bodily functions. On the other hand, if someone is engaged in REM sleep, the other set of neurons, referred to as cholinergic, become receptive to the hormone acetylcholine for muscle control...
Hobson recently performed several other experiments to elucidate other details of his model, hoping to find a way to induce REM sleep in animals. "We wanted to test the 'on' [cholinergic] cells to see if giving them acetylcholine stimulated REM sleep," says Hobson. "This gave us experimental control of REM. We could induce dreaming in animals, and instead of having to wait 30 minutes before REM onset, we could induce it in two or four...
Hobson's research, moreover, has led to his theory that REM sleep is a necessary function of life. "It's just a hypothesis at this point, but it seems like REM is tied to metabolism. When animals are REM-deprived or sleep-deprived, they die. They may eat more, but they lose metabolic control. They also lose thermoregulation, which points to a problem with caloric control...
Hobson says that the metabolism is affected because the aminergic neurons, which rest during REM sleep, get a chance to replenish their supply of neurotransmitters. These chemicals control the functions of learning, memory and attention spans. he says...
While such ideas are as yet mere hypotheses. Hobson says he has already started research to prove his ideas. He and his colleagues are planning experiments to study sleep deprivation in rats...