Sleep disorders are conditions that impair people’s sleep. They can manifest as symptoms of insufficient sleep, excessive sleep, or abnormal sensations and movements during sleep. The conditions may cause dysfunctions in a wide range of body systems, including endocrine, metabolic, and higher cortical systems. Various factors contribute to the development of sleep disorders, such as physical conditions, psychological states, and genetic components. Also, sleep disorder is associated with lots of other neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The most common neurological sleep disorders include insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and restless legs syndrome.
Insomnia occurs in up to 30% of adults during some time point in their life. People complain about sleep deficiency, difficulty in falling sleep or poor quality of sleep. Circadian rhythm disorders are characterized by shifted onset of sleep, either earlier or later than needed. Sleep apnea is diagnosed by the number of respiratory pauses during sleep. Symptoms frequently seen are loud snoring, choking, gasping, and witnessed apneas. Narcolepsy is characterized by uncontrollable occurrence sleep and overwhelming sleepiness during daily activity. Parasomnias is a group of disorders in which patients show abnormal behaviors, sensations, or cognitive functions prior to falling asleep, while asleep, or during the arousal period between sleep and wakefulness. Restless legs syndrome is characterized by an urge to move, usually accompanied by uncomfortable sensations in the lower limbs. The symptoms often happen in the evening or during rest period, which can be relief by movements like walking and stretching.
Although many sleep problems are common and widespread, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these diseases are not clear. The lack of understanding of disease development leads to inefficient or limited treatments. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how these diseases develop to facilitate the discovery of novel treatments.
The aim of this Research Topic is to discuss the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms for the sleep disorders. Studies about circadian rhythms, which is closely related to sleep disorders, are also within the scope. Original research, clinical trials, case studies, review, mini review, hypotheses, theory, and perspectives are all welcomed under the following topics:
• Animal model development and characterization for sleep disorders;
• Genetic analysis for sleep disorders;
• Pathways, circuits or biomarkers identification for the disease progression;
• Biological clock and circadian rhythms research;
• Theory and hypotheses for sleep disorder advancement;
• The relationship of sleep disorders with cognitive, metabolic and psychological functions.
• The relationship of sleep disorders with cardiovascular functions, aging and cancer.
Sleep disorders are conditions that impair people’s sleep. They can manifest as symptoms of insufficient sleep, excessive sleep, or abnormal sensations and movements during sleep. The conditions may cause dysfunctions in a wide range of body systems, including endocrine, metabolic, and higher cortical systems. Various factors contribute to the development of sleep disorders, such as physical conditions, psychological states, and genetic components. Also, sleep disorder is associated with lots of other neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The most common neurological sleep disorders include insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and restless legs syndrome.
Insomnia occurs in up to 30% of adults during some time point in their life. People complain about sleep deficiency, difficulty in falling sleep or poor quality of sleep. Circadian rhythm disorders are characterized by shifted onset of sleep, either earlier or later than needed. Sleep apnea is diagnosed by the number of respiratory pauses during sleep. Symptoms frequently seen are loud snoring, choking, gasping, and witnessed apneas. Narcolepsy is characterized by uncontrollable occurrence sleep and overwhelming sleepiness during daily activity. Parasomnias is a group of disorders in which patients show abnormal behaviors, sensations, or cognitive functions prior to falling asleep, while asleep, or during the arousal period between sleep and wakefulness. Restless legs syndrome is characterized by an urge to move, usually accompanied by uncomfortable sensations in the lower limbs. The symptoms often happen in the evening or during rest period, which can be relief by movements like walking and stretching.
Although many sleep problems are common and widespread, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these diseases are not clear. The lack of understanding of disease development leads to inefficient or limited treatments. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how these diseases develop to facilitate the discovery of novel treatments.
The aim of this Research Topic is to discuss the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms for the sleep disorders. Studies about circadian rhythms, which is closely related to sleep disorders, are also within the scope. Original research, clinical trials, case studies, review, mini review, hypotheses, theory, and perspectives are all welcomed under the following topics:
• Animal model development and characterization for sleep disorders;
• Genetic analysis for sleep disorders;
• Pathways, circuits or biomarkers identification for the disease progression;
• Biological clock and circadian rhythms research;
• Theory and hypotheses for sleep disorder advancement;
• The relationship of sleep disorders with cognitive, metabolic and psychological functions.
• The relationship of sleep disorders with cardiovascular functions, aging and cancer.