CO2 AND FALLING ASLEEP: THE STAGES OF SLEEP AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ON A PET SCAN

Date: 02/08/2008

Normal sleepers go through regular cycles of REM sleep alternating with four levels of nonREM sleep.

WAKEFULLNESS:? The brain is bathed in constant levels of neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and serotonin with spikes of acetylcholine under novel conditions.

SLEEP:

STAGE 1: In this stage the modulatory neurons become less active. On the EEG one will see declining levels of Alpha as Theta levels begin to increase. Awareness drifts and word based thinking ceases.? Image based thinking may increase.

STAGE 2:? NonREM sleep deepens in state two. The sensory motor rhythm (14hz) is required to move into this stage.

(People who have difficulty falling asleep need training in SMR or perhaps 21hz.

Without the production of SMR these individuals will toss and turn, engage in mind chatter, have a racing mind and not be able to fall asleep.)

STAGE 3:Onset of REM sleep. Norepinephrine and serotonin are essentially shut down, while acetylcholine neurons are fully active. There is a drop down into Delta. Unless they can continue on into REM sleep they will not feel rested, restored, and instead, will wake feeling tired, groggy, and grumpy. They might just begin dreaming and then wake up into stage-one sleep, only slightly remembering their dreams.

STAGE 4 or REM sleep: This is dreaming sleep, when we are without muscle tone, paralyzed, and EEG is fast and eyes are moving back and forth (REM). When we are learning new things we spend more time in REM sleep.If interrupted, we remember less the next day.? Acetylcholine during sleep seems to be the agent of remembering. On the EEG one will see high levels of Alpha, Theta and Beta, but not much Delta. Those who dont make Beta will have difficulty waking and will feel drugged and need their caffeine.

In a typical 8-hour sleep period, 20-25 percent will be spent in REM sleep and the rest in nonREM sleep.? Normals cycle the above stages 4-6 times throughout the night. REM begins in the first round about 60-80 minutes after falling asleep. The stages repeat after about 10 minutes of REM. With each cycling the REM periods increase and nonREM decreases. This is why most dreams occur in the early morning hours. The average 70 year old has spent 6 years dreaming.

WAKEFULLNESS STAGE 1 STAGE 11 STAGE 111 STAGE 1V



By Rosemary MacGregor RN, MS info@themangotreespa

506 2786 5300


An elevation in blood CO2 level is important for falling asleep, staying asleep and sleeping well. C02 is important for relaxation. Visit my website at the link below to learn more about proper breathing and about the capnotrainer to measure and use to train proper breathing.


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