Circadian rhythms, sleep and behavior

General content

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge in terms of central aspects of sleep and circadian rhythms and their role in performance, behaviour, cognition, mental and physical health. The students will be given insight on how sleep and circadian rhythmicity are measured subjectively and objectively. Development of sleep and circadian rhythms across the age span will be covered. The course will further provide theoretical and practical knowledge concerning the importance of a good night¿s sleep on cognitive and physical performance, development, metabolism, stress and other brain functions. In addition, factors that may impact sleep (such as habits, societal factors, work, exercise, drug abuse and nutrition) will also be emphasized. The course will also provide an overview of sleep disorders, symptoms, causes and treatment. The interplay between mental and physical health and sleep will also be central topic. Inter-individual differences in sleep and circadian rhythms will also comprise a central topic of the course.

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge: The student is able to describe and discuss:

• How sleep and circadian rhythms are regulated and assessed - across species
• Normal development of and individual differences in circadian rhythms and sleep.

• Factors that may influence sleep and circadian rhythms

  • Work, nutrition
  • Habits
  • Society
  • Exercise
  • Light
  • Pain
  • Drug abuse
  • Pregnancy

• The interplay between health, circadian rhythms and sleep

  • How sleep can influence development and course of mental and somatic disorders
  • How mental and somatic disorders can impact sleep and circadian rhythms
• Sleep and individual differences
• Sleep and developmental psychology

• How sleep loss affect cognitive impairment and health

  • Cognitive performance
  • stress response
  • metabolism
  • physical performance
• Shift work

• Sleep disorders

  • Insomnia, circadian sleep-wake disorders, hypersomnia, sleep related breathing disorders, parasomnias, sleep related movement disorders; assessment, prevalence, diagnostic criteria, clinical comprehension
  • Causes and consequences
  • Prevention and treatment

Skills: The student is able to

• Assess sleep and circadian rhythms
• Plan and conduct simple experiments on sleep and circadian rhythms
• Give an account of the most common sleep disorders, their symptoms and treatment

General competence: The student is able to

• • describe and discuss central perspectives on aspects that influence sleep and circadian rhythms
• measure sleep and circadian rhythms and the implications of poor sleep and/or circadian rhythms on performance and behaviour.