Meal as a factor impact on dynamic of the sleep-wake switch

Abstract

A relevant and actively studied phenomenon today is that the level of cortisol responds to each meal accompanied by insulin release. Thus, meal turns out to be an important factor affecting ultradian rhythms of cortisol secretion. Cortisol, in turn, affects the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Therefore, meal appears to be a factor influencing the characteristics of the sleep-wake cycle.
In this paper, we present a model-theoretical approach to studying the influence of cortisol on synchronism between circadian rhythm and the sleep–wake cycle. Also we consider how the intensity of meals affects the dynamics of indicators of circadian and homeostatic processes in synchronous mode. To do this, we used a combined model of the dynamics of cortisol and sleep-wake switching.
Based on the obtained results, we can draw the following conclusions:
1. Cortisol fluctuations can be up to 15% of the total level of lateral neural activity without critical deviation from the normal course of processes.
2. In synchronous mode, the intensity of eating does not cause disruptions in the sleep–wake cycle but leads to a shift in waking and falling asleep times, as well as circadian indicators towards shorter times.

Speaker

Ksenia O. Merkulova
Saratov State University
Russia

Discussion

Ask question