THE BASIC SCIENCE OF SLEEP AND CONSCIOUSNESS
Sleep occupies a third of our life, and is found in all animal species. Loss of sleep has both acute and long-term negative consequences on the brain and the body. Still, why we sleep remains unclear, and hypotheses on the role of sleep for synaptic homeostasis, learning and memory, cardiovascular and metabolic health, are being tested in humans and animal models. Learn how the sleeping brain can either support vivid conscious experiences (dreaming) or not (deep slow wave sleep); brain structures involved in wake and sleep; how sleep pressure increases during waking; effects of sleep deprivation; causes of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. How to study sleep in genetic models like flies; electron microscopy to assess effects of sleep loss on synapses; enhancement of sleep slow waves in humans; development and testing of theoretical models; methods to assess levels of consciousness in humans. During time at the WI Sleep Clinic, learn how sleep disorders are diagnosed and treated.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2022 Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain definitions used for sleep and wake Audience: Graduate 2. Detail the brain structures and systems involved in the control of sleep and wake Audience: Graduate 3. Explain recent evidence linking sleep, memory, and synaptic plasticity Audience: Graduate 4. Identify animal models used to study sleep Audience: Graduate 5. Explain molecular and genetic approaches to the study of sleep Audience: Graduate 6. Explain how sleep affects cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive functions Audience: Graduate 7. Explain the importance of sleep for the individual and society, including negative consequences of sleep deprivation and some sleep disorders Audience: Graduate 8. Detail the brain structures crucial to support consciousness Audience: Graduate 9. Describe how dreaming research can advance consciousness research Audience: Graduate 10. Explain theoretical approaches to study consciousness and how they can lead to new ways of assessing consciousness in healthy and patient populations Audience: Graduate 11. Present recent studies on sleep and consciousness research (selected for daily assigned readings) at journal clubs Audience: Graduate 12. Describe how to design a sleep/dreaming/consciousness experiment and recognize possible confounding factors Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain definitions used for sleep and wake Audience: Graduate 2. Detail the brain structures and systems involved in the control of sleep and wake Audience: Graduate 3. Explain recent evidence linking sleep, memory, and synaptic plasticity Audience: Graduate 4. Identify animal models used to study sleep Audience: Graduate 5. Explain molecular and genetic approaches to the study of sleep Audience: Graduate 6. Explain how sleep affects cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive functions Audience: Graduate 7. Explain the importance of sleep for the individual and society, including negative consequences of sleep deprivation and some sleep disorders Audience: Graduate 8. Detail the brain structures crucial to support consciousness Audience: Graduate 9. Describe how dreaming research can advance consciousness research Audience: Graduate 10. Explain theoretical approaches to study consciousness and how they can lead to new ways of assessing consciousness in healthy and patient populations Audience: Graduate 11. Present recent studies on sleep and consciousness research (selected for daily assigned readings) at journal clubs Audience: Graduate 12. Describe how to design a sleep/dreaming/consciousness experiment and recognize possible confounding factors Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027