Sleep-wake cycle: Difference between revisions

The '''Sleep-wake cycle''' is a diurnal rhythm the human body oscillates in between awake and sleeping states, the mechanics of which span several fields of science including psychophysiology, endopharmacology, metabolomics, and psychology. In this cycle a person will optimally spend 7 hours in the sleep state<ref>http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=206050 | Mortality Associated With Sleep Duration and Insomnia </ref> which is similar on the surface to unconsciousness (although the phenomenon of [[lucid dreaming]] is contradictory to the term unconsciousness). The sleep state is often preformed at night as this is the evolutionary norm for humans, as evidenced by the fact that the hormone [[melatonin]] is released during darkness and contributes to the desire to sleep.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7768078 | Sleep-inducing effects of low doses of melatonin ingested in the evening.</ref> Although melatonin in this instance serves as a regulatory mechanism for making sure humans sleep once a day during night, it is not the causative factor as humans are able to sleep even during daylight if they are sleepy enough. Though it should be noted that this can lead to [[circadian rhythm]] sleep disorders.