Insomniacs Have More Active Brains
- 10 years ago
Fifteen percent of Americans reportedly have chronic problems getting to sleep. According to a recent study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, insomnia doesn’t just happen when you can’t sleep at night.
Fifteen percent of Americans reportedly have chronic problems getting to sleep.
According to a recent study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, insomnia doesn’t just happen when you can’t sleep at night.
Researchers found that it is actually a 24 hour condition that can affect people with a more active brain.
The study compared the brain plasticity of 18 insomniac subjects with 10 subjects who have no trouble sleeping.
Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, researchers sent magnetic pulses to the area of the brain responsible for thumb movement.
After observing the involuntary directional movements of their thumbs using TMS, the researchers asked them to move their digits in the opposite direction on command. TMS was then turned back on to see which way the subject’s thumb moved.
If their thumb moved in the opposite direction from the first pulse, then it shows the brain’s ability to form new connections, which is called plasticity.
Results of the study show that subjects with insomnia also had a higher brain plasticity than the subjects who get enough sleep.
Previous studies have found that brain activity of insomniacs is also different from those who get enough sleep, making them more susceptible to a disrupted sleep.
Fifteen percent of Americans reportedly have chronic problems getting to sleep.
According to a recent study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, insomnia doesn’t just happen when you can’t sleep at night.
Researchers found that it is actually a 24 hour condition that can affect people with a more active brain.
The study compared the brain plasticity of 18 insomniac subjects with 10 subjects who have no trouble sleeping.
Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, researchers sent magnetic pulses to the area of the brain responsible for thumb movement.
After observing the involuntary directional movements of their thumbs using TMS, the researchers asked them to move their digits in the opposite direction on command. TMS was then turned back on to see which way the subject’s thumb moved.
If their thumb moved in the opposite direction from the first pulse, then it shows the brain’s ability to form new connections, which is called plasticity.
Results of the study show that subjects with insomnia also had a higher brain plasticity than the subjects who get enough sleep.
Previous studies have found that brain activity of insomniacs is also different from those who get enough sleep, making them more susceptible to a disrupted sleep.