Fundamentals of Sleep and Circadian Science

by Oxford University Press

Overview

This comprehensive textbook, spearheaded by the Sleep Research Society, presents an in-depth exploration of sleep and circadian science

The book commences by defining sleep and circadian rhythms and discussing various research methods employed in the field. It summarizes the current understanding of brain mechanisms, physiology, and genetics related to sleep and circadian rhythms, as well as their ontogeny and phylogeny. The text also examines the evidence supporting the restorative functions of sleep for both the brain and the body. Finally, it delves into the pathophysiology and demographics of major sleep disorders, the effects of sleep loss on performance and safety, and relevant sleep health policies.

Authored by renowned experts in the field, the content provides a succinct summary of the current understanding of sleep and circadian rhythms, making it an ideal resource for upper-level undergraduate and introductory graduate courses. Additionally, the book serves as an invaluable reference for physicians seeking certification in Sleep Medicine and caters to individuals interested in gaining a scholarly understanding of sleep and circadian science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780197756782
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/30/2025
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	7.12(w) x 9.95(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

The Sleep Research Society (SRS) is an organization for scientific investigators who educate and research sleep and circadian science. Through its members and leadership, SRS is organized exclusively for scientific, educational, and charitable purposes; its ultimate goal is to disseminate and foster scientific research investigation in all areas of sleep and circadian rhythms.

The editor-in-chief, Chiara Cirelli, received her medical degree and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Pisa, Italy, where she started her research on sleep. She continued this work as Fellow in experimental neuroscience at the Neuroscience Institute in San Diego, California, and since 2001 at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where she is currently Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Her laboratory aims at understanding the function of sleep and clarifying the functional consequences of sleep loss. Dr. Cirelli has published over 160 papers on sleep and received many awards for her original and sustained contribution to sleep research, including the 2017 Farrell Prize in Sleep Medicine from Harvard Medical School, the 2022 Pisa Sleep Award from Pisa University, and the 2023 Distinguished Scientist Award from the Sleep Research Society.

Table of Contents

Section 1: Basic Definitions, Advanced Methods, History
Chapter 1: Definitions and Basic Methods for Assessing Sleep
Chapter 2: Circadian Biology: Definitions and Fundamental Methods of Investigation
Chapter 3: Advanced Methods to Study Sleep
Chapter 4: Genetic and Omic Methods to Study Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
Chapter 5: History of Sleep Research

Section 2: Brain Mechanisms
Chapter 6: Neural Circuits and Neurotransmitter Systems Regulating Sleep-Wake Cycles
Chapter 7: Sensory-motor processing during sleep
Chapter 8: Fundamentals of the Circadian Clock System: Molecular Clock and Systems-Level Features
Chapter 9: Interactions of sleep-wake history and circadian rhythms in human sleep
Chapter 10: Genetics of sleep and its regulation
Chapter 11: The neurobiology of dreaming

Section 3: Physiology in Sleep
Chapter 12: Sleep and the Autonomic Nervous System
Chapter 13: Respiratory Physiology
Chapter 14: Sleep and Thermoregulation
Chapter 15: Sleep and Endocrinology
Chapter 16: Sleep and Immune Health

Section 4: Phylogeny and Ontogeny of Sleep
Chapter 17: The Evolution of Sleep: Using simple brains to study the complexity of sleep.
Chapter 18: Evolution of Vertebrate Sleep States
Chapter 19: Fundamental Features of Sleep in Early Development
Chapter 20: Sleep in Humans from Fetus through Adolescence
Chapter 21: Sleep in Humans - Older Adults

Section 5: Effects of Wake and Associated Hypothesized Functions of Sleep
Chapter 22: Influence of Behavioural States on Brain Energetics and Maintenance
Chapter 23: Learning, Memory, and Synaptic Plasticity
Chapter 24: Mood, Motivation, and Emotion Regulation

Section 6: Sleep Disorders and Sleep in Medical Conditions
Chapter 25: Sleep-related breathing disorders
Chapter 26: Insomnia Disorder
Chapter 27: Narcolepsy and Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Chapter 28: Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Chapter 29: Parasomnias
Chapter 30: Pharmacotherapy of Sleep Disorders
Chapter 31: Cognitive/Behavioural Approaches for Treating Sleep Disorders
Chapter 32. Sleep and circadian rhythms in psychiatric and neurological disorders
Chapter 33: Sleep in Medical Disorders

Section 7: Sleep and Society
Chapter 34: Population-Level Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Sleep Disparities
Chapter 35: Impact of Sleep Loss on Alertness, Performance, and Safety
Chapter 36: Sleep health and policy