Describe and Evaluate Lifespan Changes in Sleep

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Describe and evaluate lifespan changes in sleep? (24 marks) As humans grow from infancy to old age there are major changes in the amount and kind of sleep experienced. Babies tend to sleep a lot more than adults roughly around 16 hours a day. They usually wake up every hour or so their sleep cycle is not 90 minutes. Infants have sleep stages similar to adults called quiet and active sleep; these are immature versions of SWS and REM sleep. By the age of 6 months a circadian rhythm has become established and by the age of one year infants are usually sleeping mainly at night, with one or two naps a day. The periods of deep sleep lengthen and there is a reduction in the amount of active sleep. It’s not yet known if this sleep is active with dreams. One suggestion to babies sleep patterns is that they sleep to make their parents life easier so they can get on with chores and work which enhances survival. Night waking has adaptive benefits too as babies have smaller stomachs and need to be fed regularly might not be woken through the night from feeling cold or hungry. Infant’s greater amount of REM sleep may be explained in terms of relative immaturity of the infant’s brain, and is related to the considerable amount of learning that is taking place. REM sleep has been linked to the production of neurotransmitters and to consolidate memories. This explains why babies have a significantly greater amount of REM sleep. It is further supported by the fact that premature babies spend 90% of their time in active sleep. Some psychologists even suggest that REM activity may present imagery which further stimulates the brain. Furthermore in childhood by the age of five children have EEG patterns that look like those of an adult despite the fact that they are still sleeping more (mire REM activity). During childhood it is not uncommon for children to experience a variety of

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