The Effects of Sleep Quality on the Brain, Anxiety, and Depression
In a modern world constantly filled with activity, countless individuals find it difficult to accommodate a proper sleep schedule. Foregoing sleep is a common practice among both students and working adults. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2015 that almost 30% of surveyed adults slept less than six hours a night, and merely 31% of high school students obtained the recommended eight hours per night. Unfortunately, a lack of sleep, in either quality or quantity, can have negative effects on both mental and physical health. As a result, it has been speculated that clinical anxiety and depression may be associated with sleep effectiveness.
It has been suggested that the ability to recover from negatively stressful events can be decreased by the lack of a good night’s sleep. As sleep quality worsens, it can become more difficult to control emotional responses. Therefore, even minor challenges may appear to be more negative than they really are. In addition, associations between mental illness and poor sleep have been shown in several studies: failure to sleep well can lead not only to the appearance of issues in mood but also to an increase in the severity of symptoms related to psychiatric illness.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have recently sought to demonstrate the brain-based factors behind these connections, specifically with regards to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (DACC), a part of the brain that helps deal with conflict and process internal emotions. The study involved adults with both general and social anxiety as well as depression. They were allowed to self-report the quality of their sleep and, then, had their sleep schedules further monitored through an objective recording of the amount of time spent sleeping. In addition, they underwent a scan through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine their brain activity while practicing control over their emotions. DACC activity was also monitored.
It has been suggested that the ability to recover from negatively stressful events can be decreased by the lack of a good night’s sleep. As sleep quality worsens, it can become more difficult to control emotional responses. Therefore, even minor challenges may appear to be more negative than they really are. In addition, associations between mental illness and poor sleep have been shown in several studies: failure to sleep well can lead not only to the appearance of issues in mood but also to an increase in the severity of symptoms related to psychiatric illness.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have recently sought to demonstrate the brain-based factors behind these connections, specifically with regards to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (DACC), a part of the brain that helps deal with conflict and process internal emotions. The study involved adults with both general and social anxiety as well as depression. They were allowed to self-report the quality of their sleep and, then, had their sleep schedules further monitored through an objective recording of the amount of time spent sleeping. In addition, they underwent a scan through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine their brain activity while practicing control over their emotions. DACC activity was also monitored.
Image Source: Thomas Barwick
Results indicated a quality of sleep in most subjects that was similar to that of people with insomnia, the lack of ability to sleep. However, the patients in the study were not necessarily classified as insomniacs; they merely demonstrated comparable sleep patterns. Approximately 74% of the patients could be classified as suffering from sleep disturbance. Further analysis indicated that worse sleep impacted DACC ability. Hence, there was more difficulty in regulating emotional responses to negative situations.
It is important to note, however, that what participants may have self-reported did not always correspond with the data obtained from their sleep monitoring and brain activity. Even though participants may have actually had a decent sleep efficiency, they could have reported the opposite. The discrepancies between self-reporting and objective recordings could also become more significant as a result of depression or anxiety. Overall, the fMRI and sleep monitoring were likely to have produced more objective results.
Despite popular belief, “waking up on the wrong side of bed” perhaps is less detrimental than not staying in bed longer. Even in people without anxiety or depression, a loss of sleep in terms of time or quality can cause lowered mood. For many people, especially those with psychiatric illnesses, sleeping well is crucial for maintaining a positive mood.
It is important to note, however, that what participants may have self-reported did not always correspond with the data obtained from their sleep monitoring and brain activity. Even though participants may have actually had a decent sleep efficiency, they could have reported the opposite. The discrepancies between self-reporting and objective recordings could also become more significant as a result of depression or anxiety. Overall, the fMRI and sleep monitoring were likely to have produced more objective results.
Despite popular belief, “waking up on the wrong side of bed” perhaps is less detrimental than not staying in bed longer. Even in people without anxiety or depression, a loss of sleep in terms of time or quality can cause lowered mood. For many people, especially those with psychiatric illnesses, sleeping well is crucial for maintaining a positive mood.
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