What’s happening in your brain when you are “losing your mind” from lack of sleep?
In: 3
As sleep deprivation increases;
The perceptual system of the brain gradually weakens. Initially the visual network appears compromised. Eventually similar effects are observed in the sensory, auditory, and cognitive domains of the brain. This causes mental “lapses” and reductions in alertness. The brain increasingly focuses inwards, and is less constrained by the input from the external environment.
The biological mechanisms for the perceptual changes may relate to neurotransmitter action;
– Neuronal instability or neural transmission defect
(Inconsistent or overall reduction in synapses)
– Neurotransmission processes linked with occipital cortex disrupted
(Dopamine, Serotonin, and Noradrenaline are neurotransmitters that all play important roles in sleep and wakefulness processes and may contribute)
-Intracellular degeneration of related neurons
(process known as chromatolysis, due to fatigue and stress. Neurons vulnerable to damage are found in the regions responsible for sensory perception and executive functions)
There is still much to discover about the effects of sleep deprivation on the human brain, what we have now is a limited collection of theories and experiments gathered since the mid 1960s. Sleep deprivation experiments beyond 48 hours are now considered unethical, so we base a lot of our understanding on past findings.
Source:
Severe Sleep Deprivation Causes Hallucinations and a Gradual Progression Toward Psychosis With Increasing Time Awake
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6048360/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6048360/)
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