Outline and Evaluate the Restoration Theory as an Explanation of the Function of Sleep

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Outline and evaluate the restoration theory as an explanation of the function of sleep According to restoration theories, the purpose is to repair and renew the brain and the body through restoring energy resources, repair and growth of tissue cells and muscles and replenishing neurotransmitters. Oswald claimed that slow-wave sleep restored the body through protein synthesis and REM sleep restored the brain. Slow wave sleep initiates body repair. Growth hormone is secreted during slow wave sleep. Growth hormone stimulates growth and therefore it is particularly important during childhood. It is also important in adulthood because it enables protein synthesis and cell growth to take place. This is vital in the restoration of body tissue because proteins are fragile and must constantly be renewed. This constant restoration of vital proteins is part of the body’s natural recovery process. Growth hormone is secreted pulses during the day but a significant amount is released during. Sassin et al found that sleep waking cycles are reversed by 12 hours, the release of the growth hormone with sleep is also reversed. This shows that growth hormone release is controlled by neural mechanisms related to SWS. Krueger et al found that the lack of SWS has been associated with reduced functioning of the immune system. The immune system consists of various protein molecules which are regenerated during cell growth and protein synthesis in SWS. REM sleep initiates brain repair. Infants have a greater proportion of REM sleep than adults, which suggests that REM sleep may be important to brain growth. Siegal suggests that the amount of REM sleep in any animal is proportional to the immaturity of the offspring at birth. For example platypus is immature at birth and has about 8 hours REM sleep, whereas dolphin which can swim from birth has almost no REM sleep, suggesting a

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