Dr Gina Poe is a neuroscientist at UCLA specializing in sleep and the role of sleep in memory consolidation. In this first of a two part conversation, Dr Poe takes us through the phases of sleep and role each one plays in our well being.

You can learn more about Dr Poe on her UCLA facult page and read about her research here.

Sleep notes:

The relationship between sleep and thermoregulation.

More on sleep stages in research based off of EEG readings.

Muscle paralysis (atonia) during REM sleep is believed to be caused by the GABA receptors and glycine. And an alternative perspective.

More on REM behavior disorder.

List of criminal cases that involved sleep walking as a defense.

Hypnic jerk – the sensation of falling while falling asleep.

EEG graph of a sleep spindle.

Study – sleep spindles correlated with IQ.

Study examining the relationship between endocannabinoid signaling and sleep regulation.

Brazil Study – The effects of Cannabidiol on the sleep cycle.

Animal study linking Deep Sleep (Slow Wave Sleep) to cerebral protein synthesis.

A literature review of the cognitive neuroscience of sleep by Dr Poe.

An animal study on the role of protein synthesis in learning.

Finnish study on sauna use and reduced all-cause mortality. And the benefit of sauna in staving off Alzheimer’s and dementia.

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See you next week for part 2!