title: Role of cardiorespiratory synchronization and sleep physiology: effects on membrane potential in the restorative functions of sleep.
abstract: Although sleep physiology has been extensively studied, many of the cellular processes that occur during sleep and the functional significance of sleep remain unclear. The degree of cardiorespiratory synchronization during sleep increases during the progression of slow-wave sleep (SWS). Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity also assumes a pattern that correlates with the progression of sleep. The ANS is an integral part of physiologic processes that occur during sleep with the respective contribution of parasympathetic and sympathetic activity varying between different sleep stages. In our paper, we attempt to unify the activities of various physiologic systems, namely the cardiac, respiratory, ANS and brain, during sleep into a consolidated picture with particular attention to the membrane potential of neurons. In our unified model, we explore the potential of sleep to promote restorative processes in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Augusta Women's Center, Research, Augusta, GA, USA. Electronic address: Rj605r@aol.com.
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jerath
authors.affiliation: Augusta Women's Center, Research, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Kyler
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harden
authors.affiliation: Augusta Women's Center, Research, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Georgia Prevention Center, Institute of Public and Preventative Health, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Vernon A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Medical Illustration, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Cardiorespiratory synchronization; Membrane potential; Restoration; Sleep neuroanatomy; Sleep physiology