Why Do Sleep Spindles Occur
Sleep Spindles Occur During the Depolarized Phase of the Slow Oscillation and Are Generated in Thalamic Circuits as a Consequence of Cortical Firing. When the...
Sleep spindles occur during the depolarized phase of the slow oscillation and are generated in thalamic circuits as a consequence of cortical firing. When the cortex enters an up-state, strong cortical firing excites GABAergic neurons in the reticular nucleus of the thalamus.
What causes sleep spindles?
Sleep spindles are bursts of neural oscillatory activity that are generated by interplay of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and other thalamic nuclei during stage 2 NREM sleep in a frequency range of ~11 to 16 Hz (usually 12–14 Hz) with a duration of 0.5 seconds or greater (usually 0.5–1.5 seconds).
What are the functions of sleep spindles and K complex?
Spindles and K-complexes are ubiquitous NREM sleep EEG features and are signs of progression into stable sleep with the reaching of stage 2. They are well characterized by EEG features, but the network of generating and associated regions is poorly understood.
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