BASIC SLEEP MECHANISMS AND SLEEP DISORDERS: FROM NEUROBIOLOGY TO SLEEP MEDICINE

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: PSYCH 454 and ZOOLOGY/PSYCH 523 or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Outline the physiology and definitions used to define sleep and wake Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Detail the brain structures and systems involved in the control of sleep and wake Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe circadian and homeostatic regulation of sleep and wakefulness Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Describe recent evidence linking sleep, memory, and synaptic plasticity Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Describe animal models used to study sleep Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Describe molecular and genetic approaches to the study of sleep Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Recognize how sleep changes across the lifespan Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Explain how sleep affects endocrine, metabolic, and cognitive functions Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Outline the importance of sleep for the individual and society, including negative consequences of sleep deprivation and sleep disorders Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 10. List the symptoms, pathological mechanisms, epidemiology, and treatments of sleep disorders (including insomnia, sleep apnea, central nervous system hypersomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, parasomnias, and sleep-related movement disorders) Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 11. Discuss additional very recent studies on sleep topics and learn how to recognize strengths and limitations of these studies relative to prior knowledge on sleep research Audience: Graduate 12. Describe how to design a sleep experiment and recognize the many confounding factors often associated with sleep studies Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Outline the physiology and definitions used to define sleep and wake Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Detail the brain structures and systems involved in the control of sleep and wake Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe circadian and homeostatic regulation of sleep and wakefulness Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Describe recent evidence linking sleep, memory, and synaptic plasticity Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Describe animal models used to study sleep Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Describe molecular and genetic approaches to the study of sleep Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Recognize how sleep changes across the lifespan Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Explain how sleep affects endocrine, metabolic, and cognitive functions Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Outline the importance of sleep for the individual and society, including negative consequences of sleep deprivation and sleep disorders Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 10. List the symptoms, pathological mechanisms, epidemiology, and treatments of sleep disorders (including insomnia, sleep apnea, central nervous system hypersomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, parasomnias, and sleep-related movement disorders) Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 11. Discuss additional very recent studies on sleep topics and learn how to recognize strengths and limitations of these studies relative to prior knowledge on sleep research Audience: Graduate 12. Describe how to design a sleep experiment and recognize the many confounding factors often associated with sleep studies Audience: Graduate