Sleep Science

"Sleep is one of the most important but least understood aspects of our life, wellness, and longevity ... An explosion of scientific discoveries in the last twenty years has shed new light on this fundamental aspect of our lives. Now ... neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker gives us a new understanding of the vital importance of sleep and dreaming"--Amazon.com.

"Roughly one third of our lifetime is - or should be - spent asleep; yet despite the expansive scientific knowledge gained in many fields (i.e., psychology, neurophysiology) about our wake state, only relatively recently have we begun to catch up with the study of sleep. As Tom Roth, former editor of the journal Sleep, put it, "It's analogous to going to Mars with a third of the Earth's surface still unexplored" [1].Sleep is a strange experience, playing tricks on our consciousness. Sometimes within only a couple minutes of dozing off, we can go through a plethora of vivid and complex experiences. Alternatively, we may lapse into what feels like a total absence of consciousness, a jump in time, waking after a long slumber with no memory of the last eight hours. Sleep does not bend time, but without a doubt, it alters our consciousness. It is, therefore, no surprise that most people enjoy sleeping - when we sleep, we no longer feel the toothache, headache or the heartache that we suffer when awake"--

“Attractive, artistic, informative, engaging, and lucidly written . . . Mendelson provides an excellent introduction to sleep science and sleep medicine.” —Sleep and Vigilance We often hear that humans spend one third of their lives sleeping—and most of us would up that fraction if we could. Whether we’re curling up for a brief lunchtime catnap, catching a doze on a sunny afternoon, or clocking our solid eight hours at night, sleeping is normally a reliable way to rest our heads and recharge our minds. And our bodies demand it: without sufficient sleep, we experience changes in mood, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms of sleep deprivation can be severe, and we know that sleep is essential for restoring and rejuvenating muscles, tissue, and energy. And yet, although science is making remarkable inroads into the workings and functions of sleep, many aspects still remain a mystery. In The Science of Sleep, sleep expert Wallace B. Mendelson explains the elements of human sleep states and explores the variety of sleep disorders afflicting thousands of people worldwide. Mendelson lays out the various treatments that are available today and provides a helpful guide for one of life’s most important activities. By offering the first scientific yet accessible account of sleep science, Mendelson allows readers to assess their personal relationships with sleep and craft their own individual approaches to a comfortable and effective night’s rest. Addressing one of the major public health issues of the day with cutting-edge research and empathetic understanding, The Science of Sleep is the definitive illustrated reference guide to sleep science.

Experts of every kind are queuing up to warn us that lack of sleep, or the wrong kind, will bring down a bewildering array of dire consequences. Heather Darwall-Smith's message in this book is simple: don't panic! Humans are biologically programmed to sleep, and by interrogating all the factors - sociological, physiological, neurological, and psychological - that might be impeding this innate instinct, each of us can work out the changes we can make in our own lifestyles to allow ourselves to sleep naturally again. This book demystifies the bewildering data around sleep by combining science with natural self-help techniques. Inside the pages of this illustrated guide to sleep, you'll discover: - A visual approach to understanding the science of why and how we sleep through info-graphics, graphs and diagrams that unpick the data and present the facts in an easy-to-follow format. - Proven techniques and strategies for better sleep from the author - based on extensive clinical practice and drawing on the most up-to-date evidence from scientists around the world. - The latest research and evidence to debunk the myths and misconceptions around sleep. Heather Darwall-Smith has combined her research findings, clinical expertise, and curated techniques to create a uniquely visual approach to explaining the interrelated factors that make up our sleep habits. She also provides natural techniques to deal with these underlying causes. Humans are biologically programmed to sleep, Heather encourages each of us to work out the changes we can make to our lifestyles to nourish our body clocks for us to sleep naturally again. The Science of Sleep provides in-depth answers to questions about sleep challenges and exposes myths and fads using science that is accessible to all. Armed with facts, this book equips readers to take control of their choices, understand and transform their sleep habits one night at a time.

Healthy newborns follow a comfortable pattern. They're up two or three times a night for food and comfort, but you expect these nocturnal disturbances with a new baby. But at three or four months of age, everything changes. Your baby now wakes at all hours of the night, and exhaustion and frustration become the norm. The good news is you haven't done anything wrong. Your baby's new sleep pattern (or lack thereof) is a biological response known as the four-month regression. Infant sleep experts Meg Casano, BSN, MA, and Erin Flynn-Evans, PhD, MPH, provide the knowledge and strategies you need to get through the four-month regression and reestablish restful sleep patterns. Unlike many misleading and uninformed sleep "experts," Flynn-Evans and Casano base their advice on sound scientific principles so that you can act with confidence. You'll discover how to spot early signs of the four-month regression, how to prevent it if possible, and how to resolve the issue if not. Doing so provides you with realistic expectations of your child's nighttime sleeping patterns and helps you guide your baby back to a healthy, restful nighttime routine.

This book is published at a time when more and more advances are being made to bridge the gap between basic and clinical neuroscience. It is primarily intended for scientists and clinicians intent on linking the neurobiology of sleep with its associated disorders. Topics were selected that illustrate how contemporary research is being translated into clinical insights and therapies. The contributed chapters were written by scientists actively working at the interface between basic and applied sleep science, with subjects ranging from the mechanisms of intracellular signal transduction to the effects of ambient geophysical cycles. Essays include the physiologic regulation of sleep and its homeostatic collapse, the underlying neural and chemical circuitry, and the biological basis for new therapies using melatonin and environmental light.

Sleep's purposes and benefits - and the impacts of not sleeping well or well enough - have been intensively investigated as a modern science for nearly 60 years. Sleep Science is an advanced introduction to the subject of sleep and sleep disorders. Designed for upper-division undergraduate students who have completed introductory prerequisites in behavioral principles, systems physiology, and research methods, it is also appropriate for the post-graduate student adding sleep to their training portfolio. Sleep Science is ideal for use in a standard semester- or quarter-based course, and is organized into thematic sections: normative adult sleep; lifespan development; sleep and circadian disorders and treatments; sleep assessments; and sleep as a profession. Cross-cutting issues are specifically addressed in chapters such as women's health and culture. Chapters conform to a standardized layout and are authored by subject matter experts, all of whom are also sleep educators. Edited for a consistent voice and continuity, each chapter features explanatory figures, tables, and/or photographs to illustrate key concepts.

Shawn Stevenson is a health expert with a background in biology and kinesiology who has helped thousands of people worldwide to improve their health, through his private work as well as his #1 Nutrition and Fitness podcast on iTunes. In his work, Shawn brings a well-rounded perspective to the perennial question: how can we feel better? In investigating complex health issues such as weight loss, chronic fatigue and hormone imbalance, Shawn realised that many health problems start with one criminally overlooked aspect of our routine - sleep. In Sleep Smarter Shawn explores the little-known and even less-appreciated facts about sleep's influence on every part of our life. Backed by the latest scientific research and packed with personal anecdotes and tips from leaders in the field of sleep research, this book depicts the dangers of insufficient sleep - from weight retention to memory loss to bad sex to increased risk of disease. In his clear, personable and relatable style Shawn offers 21 simple, immediately applicable ways for readers to take their well-being into their own hands and improve their sleep now