Cortical development, electroencephalogram rhythms, and the sleep/wake cycle.

ABSTRACT: During adulthood, electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings are used to distinguish wake, non-rapid eye movement sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep states. The close association between behavioral states and EEG rhythms is reached late during development, after birth in humans and by the end of the second postnatal week in rats and mice. This critical time is also when cortical activity switches from a discontinuous to a continuous pattern. We review the major cellular and network changes that can account for this transition. After this close link is established, new evidence suggests that the slow waves of non-rapid eye movement sleep may function as markers to track cortical development. However, before the EEG can be used to identify behavioral states, two distinct sleep phases--quiet slee

SUBMITTER: Cirelli C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4444390 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature