What are Sleep Disorders and Their Neurological Bases?
Sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy have distinct neurological bases. Insomnia is often linked to hyperarousal and imbalances in neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin. Sleep apnea involves the disruption of normal breathing patterns during sleep, often due to blockages in the upper airway or neurological issues in the brainstem. Narcolepsy is caused by a deficiency in orexin-producing neurons, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.
