Your body and pain – how sleep is affected as a result!
The reception of pain to the body and how the brain reacts as a result is an intriguing and insightful aspect to identifying the collateral effect of interrupted sleep and what occurs as a consequence. From the processing of sensation to the speed of brain wave reception it can be understood how important sleep is for the rejuvenation of cells and important organs such as the brain. The video establishes and vividly describes the ongoing of sleep interruption caused by the breakdown of the brain’s sensory mechanism.
Transcript
The Sensory Gating Mechanism
Pain is a leading cause of insomnia and sleep disruption is one of the key complaints in patients who suffer chronic pain. During normal sleep a gating mechanism isolated the upper brain from group of sensory information. This disengagement from the environment allows sleep to continue without interruption.
However a long lasting pain sensation is perceived by the central nervous system as a potential danger and this continuous barrage of pain signals reaching the thalamus breaks down the gating mechanism allowing a free flow of neural impulses onward to the cortex – so what is this gating mechanism? How does it work? At the level of the thalamus – the reticular nucleus generates inhibitory post synoptic potentials that maintain sleep continuity.
This is done by the gamma amino butyric acid where gabba binding molecules to their receptors. This binding triggers the gating mechanism to reduce pain perception by allowing chloride isles to flex through causing inhibitory post synaptic potentials and a slower firing range by electrons. This block in the thalamus then causes the quarticle connections to break down as well leading to fading of consciousness known as sleep – compared to wakefulness where sensory stimulation induces a sustained quartile response represented here by sustained brain waves of brain activity. During sleep waves of brain activity quickly diminish and do not propagate to other quartzes. Thus the gating mechanism at the level of the thalamus plays a significant role in allowing continuation of sleep.
However when there is a long lasting painful sensation the brain perceives this as perturbation equilibrium and this continuous barrage of pain indication reaching the thalamus breaks down the gating mechanism causing sleep disruption and pain exacerbation. Awakening from various pain regions from pain and sleep is part of a natural survival response to protect the body from natural damage. However continuous sleep disruption can lead to more pain and result in a vicious cycle of less sleep and more pain. Current research which excite or inhibit the gating mechanism may eventually offer patient with chronic pain better management of sleep quality and continuity.