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Sleep: Neurobiology, Medicine, and Society

Approx. 21 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course explores the importance of sleep and provides tips and techniques for improving the quality of sleep. Students will learn about the science behind sleep and practical ways to establish a healthy sleep routine.

Key Learning Points

Understand the importance of sleep for physical and mental health
Learn about the different stages of sleep and their functions
Explore techniques for improving sleep quality, such as creating a sleep-conducive environment and establishing a consistent sleep routine

Learning Outcomes

Understand the importance of sleep for overall health and well-being
Learn practical ways to improve sleep quality
Establish a consistent sleep routine

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic understanding of biology and physiology
Access to a computer with internet connection

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Video lectures

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Arianna Huffington
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Related Books

Description

The objective of this course is to give students the most up-to-date information on the biological, personal, and societal relevance of sleep. Personal relevance is emphasized by the fact that the single best predictor of daytime performance is the quality of the previous night's sleep. The brain actively generates sleep, and the first section of the course is an overview of the neurobiological basis of sleep control. The course provides cellular-level understanding of how sleep deprivation, jet lag, and substances such as alcohol, ,caffeine, and nicotine alter sleep and wakefulness. The second section of the course covers sleep-dependent changes in physiology and sleep disorders medicine. Particular emphasis will be placed on disorders of excessive sleepiness, insomnia, and sleep-dependent changes in autonomic control. Chronic sleep deprivation impairs immune function and may promote obesity. Deaths due to all causes are most frequent between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m., and this second section of the class highlights the relevance of sleep for preventive medicine. The societal relevance of sleep will be considered in the final section of the class. In an increasingly complex and technologically oriented society, operator-error by one individual can have a disastrous negative impact on public health and safety. Fatigue-related performance decrements are known to have contributed as causal factors to nuclear power plant failures, transportation disasters, and medical errors.

Outline

Unit 01 - Neurobiology Section: Course Introduction & Neurobiology of Sleep and Wakefulness (Part One) - (Standard Track & Honors Track)
01.01 - Course Overview - Ralph Lydic, Ph.D.
02.01 - Learning Points
02.02 - Defining Behavioral States
02.03 - Historical Overview: Brainstem & Forebrain
02.04 - Wake & REM: Monoamines
02.05 - Wake & REM: Acetylcholine
Getting Started
Syllabus
Help Us Learn More About You!
Lesson 2 Orientation
Did you Complete Lesson 2?

Unit 02 - Neurobiology Section: Neurobiology of Sleep and Wakefulness (Part Two) - (Honors Track)
02.06 - Wake & REM: GABA
02.07: Wake & REM: Orexin
02.08: NREM: GABA
02.09: NREM: Adenosine
02:10: Summary
Did you complete Lesson 03?
Unit 02 Honors Track Quiz - Neurobiology of Sleep and Wakefulness

Unit 03 - Neurobiology: Mathematical Modeling of Sleep-Wake Regulation - (Honors Track)
03.01 - Introduction to Mathematical Modeling of Sleep-Wake Regulation
03.02 - Two Process Model
03.03 - Sleep-Wake Flip-Flop Model
03.04 - Reciprocal Interaction Model
03.05 - REM Sleep Flip-Flop Model
03.06 - Features for an Ideal Model of Sleep-Wake Regulation
03.07 - Introduction to Mechanistic Models of Sleep-Wake Regulation
03.08 - Diniz Benh & Booth Model - Part I
03.09 - Diniz Benh & Booth Model - Part II
03.10 - Conclusion
Unit 03 Orientation
Did you Complete Lesson 5?
Unit 03 Quiz - Mathematical Modeling of Sleep-Wake Regulation

Unit 04 - Neurobiology: Molecular Biology and Genetics of Sleep - (Honors Track)
04.01 - Expression of mRNA Varies During Sleep and Wakefulness
04.02 - Wake Genes that are Associated with Energy Metabolism
04.03 - Synaptic Plasticity is Genetically Modulated
04.04 - Brain Glial Cells Influence States of Sleep and Wakefulness
04.05 - Genetic Modulation of Human Sleep Phenotypes
04.06 - Conclusion
Did you complete Lesson 7?
Unit 04 Quiz - Molecular Biology and Genetics of Sleep

Unit 05 - Medicine: Overview of Sleep Medicine - Ronald Chervin, M.D. - (Standard Track)
05.01 - Introduction - Overview of Sleep Medicine
05.02 - Clinical Approach to Sleep Disorders
05.03 - Polysomnography
05.04 - Classification of Sleep Disorders
05.05 - Obstructive Sleep Apnea
05.06 - Testing for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
05.07 - Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and Concluding Thoughts
Unit 05 Orientation
Unit 05 Quiz- Overview of Sleep Medicine

Unit 06 - Medicine: Disordered Sleep and Breathing Alters Cardiovascular Health - (Standard Track)
06.01- Impact of Disordered Sleep and Breathing on Cardiovascular Health (Part 1)
06.02 - Impact of Disordered Sleep and Breathing on Cardiovascular Health (Part 2)
06.03 - Outcomes of CPAP Therapy and Conclusions
Unit 06 Orientation
Unit 06 Quiz - Disordered Sleep and Breathing Alters Cardiovascular Health

Unit 07 - Medicine: Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders - (Standard Track)
07.01 - Introduction - Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders
07.02 - What Goes to Sleep?
07.03 - Sleep Alterations Associated with Specific Psychiatric Disorders
07.04 - Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia
07.05 - Anxiety Disorders
07.06 - Substance Use Disorders
07.07 - Insomnia
07.08 - Interventions for Insomnia
Unit 07 Orientation
Unit 07 Quiz - Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders

Unit 08 - Medicine: Insomnia: Causes and Consequences - (Standard Track)
08.01 - Insomnia: Causes and Consequences
08.02 - Consequences of Insomnia
08.03 - Causes of Insomnia
08.04 - Insomnia and its Relation to Hyperarousal
Unit 08 Orientation
Unit 08 Quiz - Insomnia: Causes and Consequences

Unit 09 - Medicine: Treatments for Insomnia - (Standard Track)
09.01 - Behavioral and Pharmacological Treatments for Insomnia
09.02 - Treatment Options for Insomnia
09.03 - BzRA Hypnotics
09.04 - Abuse Liability of Hypnotic Agents
09.05 - Pharmacological Treatments for Insomnia
09.06 - Nonpharmacological Treatments for Insomnia
09.07 - How CBT-I Works
09.08 - Pharmacological Treatments for Insomnia Part III
09.09 - Summary
Unit 09 Quiz - Treatments for Insomnia

Unit 10 - Medicine: Sleep and Anesthesia - (Standard Track)
Unit 10 Overview
10.01 - Sleep and Anesthesia: Shared Phenotype and Shared Mechanism?
10.02 - Sleep and Anesthesia: Shared Function?
10.03 - Summary
Unit 10 Quiz - Sleep and Anesthesia

Unit 11 - Society: Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Health - (Standard Track)
11.01 - Why Sleep is Important
11.02 - Sleep Occurs as a Circadian Rhythm
11.03 - Changes in Sleep Rhythms Across the Lifespan (Part 1)
11.04 - Changes in Sleep Rhythms Across the Lifespan (Part 2)
11.05 - Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Hygiene
Unit 11 Orientation
Unit 11 Quiz - Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Health

Unit 12 - Society: Daytime Sleepiness and Sleep Need - Thomas Roth, Ph.D. (Standard Track)
12.01 - Brain Basis of Daytime Sleepiness
12.02 - How is Sleepiness Measured?
12.03 - How Many People in our Society are Sleepy?
12.04 - What are the Causes of Daytime Sleepiness?
Unit 12 Orientation
Farewell for Now
Post-Course Survey
Keep Learning with Michigan Online!
Unit 12 Quiz - Daytime Sleepiness and Sleep Need

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the science behind sleep and its impact on our health and society. This course covers everything from the basics of sleep to the latest research on sleep disorders, and is taught by leading experts in the field. Many users found the course to be engaging and informative, with a key aspect being the practical tips for improving sleep habits.

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and informative course content
Practical tips for improving sleep habits
Taught by leading experts in the field

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course to be too technical
Limited discussion of alternative sleep practices
Some users experienced technical difficulties with the platform

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