Neurobiology and Genetics of Sleep/Wake Disorders

FIGURE 1.1. There is still much debate over the purpose of sleep. Som on a myriad of physiological AF”>2010; Guo et al., e propose that sleep is essential for synaptic growth, while others argue that sleep is necessary for synaptic pruning (Mignot, 2012; Dresler et al., 2014). Regardless of which hypothesis—or some combination of both—is more accurate, it has become increasingly evident that disturbances of the sleep/wake cycle have a detrimental effect on a myriad of physiological and psychiatric functions. Aside from the economic costs of sleep/wake disorders, the risk of cardiometabolic disease, cancer, mental illness, and overall poorer quality of life are all increased when the sleep/wake cycle is disturbed (Cappuccio et al., 2010; Guo et al., 2013; Lallukka et al., 2014; Liu et al., 2013; Ohayon, 2012; Palma et al., 2013; Pigeon et al., 2012).