Posted by yxibow on December 3, 2006, at 6:33:40
In reply to Re: Circadian rhythm » Cairo, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2006, at 18:06:08
> My Mother had Addison's and slept all day. And I go to bed later the older I get it's like I've swiched. And like to be up at night and sleep during the day. What's that mean? Love Phillipa
Sleep changes as we age in life -- as newborns we sleep 2/3 of the day. During the main part of life, we sleep an average of 8 hours or more. As we pass our fifties, this starts to change and by older age we may need as little as 5 or 6 hours.
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/sleep_age.html
REM sleep is not necessary to survive but it is a fascinating part of human existance and certainly contributes to our quality of life. This also changes as we age.
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/sleep.html
Some amusing trivia about animal sleep cycles:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chasleep.html
Our circadian rhythm is governed by the suprachiasmatic nucleus and slightly exceeds 24 hours on average, it is not known exactly, but it can exist in total isolation.
-- Jay
- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:709655
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061129/msgs/709858.html