Introduction
“Our biological rhythms are the symphony of the cosmos, music embedded deep within us to which we dance, even when we can’t name the tune.”
Deepak Chopra
In the previous article we mentioned insomnia which is a common side effect of psychotropic drugs and indeed sleep deprivation experiments in Mice has shown extensive reduction in longevity if the poor creature is forbidden to sleep. In humans it is same situation. Mental disorders can also cause sleep disorders, so by plying psychotropic drugs simply exacerbate sleep disorder. In a small number of cases these sleep disorders have manifested themselves into sleepwalking, potentially induced by antipsychotic drugs, and on the other side of the coin, antipsychotic drugs are used to treat sleep disorders and sleepwalking. Further, sleepwalking may contribute to delusions, aggression and accidental suicide and in the case of Kenneth Parks homicide. Sleep cycles or Circadian rhythms are regulated by light picked up by the retina of the eye that indirectly activates the pineal gland to release Melatonin via the Retina-SCN-PVN-SCG-Pineal pathway, which we will discuss in a little more detail. In addition we will discuss sleep science and true dream interpretation.
Retina-SCN-PVN-SCG-Pineal-pathway
One of the most important aspects of brain function is Rhythm. Like most aspects of life and nature is balance and rhythm. This is why music is so therapeutic in life and the natural ability to hear music and dance to its rhythm. I was raised on Rock, R&B and Reggie so the rhythms of this music especially reggie was pure magic for the body and the words of ‘Osibisa’ “ musical criss cross rhythms that explode with happiness”. When light is received by the retina of the eye it activates a substance called Melanopsin, which is a light sensitive protein that resides in the retinal ganglion cells ( located below the rods & cones that allow humans to see images from the environment). Interestingly, since the retinal ganglion cells are independent of the rods and cones blind people can still regulate their circadian rhythm. This in turn generates neural pulses down the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) to the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN). The SCN is an incredibly tiny part of the hypothalamus and is actually the body’s Master clock that is synchronised from natural environmental light-dark cycles of each day in tune with the earth’s rotation. Within 24 hours, the body’s hormones which one would expect to be high during the day and low during the night;( a typical bell shaped curve or Ultradian wave), however, this is not what happens. Hormones are released in an oscillatory wave pattern that peaks every hour and troughs every half hour, but the amplitude is high during the day and lower at night. The reason for this is very simple, you will remember the HPA axis ( diagram shown below ) where hormones are produced by the Hypothalamus, Pituitary and the Adrenal gland. The adrenal gland that releases cortisol for stress also is released continually around the 24 hour clock, but it is not designed to store hormones, so each time it is signalled by the pituitary ACTH hormone, the adrenal manufactures cortisol on demand, which is why system has to oscillate, to compensate for the time delay in cortisol production.
Cortisol
Most people associate cortisol with stress and it is referred to as the stress hormone, but it has other functions within the body, especially associated with our 24 hour life cycle. As we discussed above, hormones are released throughout the day and night according to our oscillatory circadian rhythm. Without the continual release of cortisol, we would feel lethargic with no energy, which is why…yes you guessed it, when the adrenals are overworked from stress it can lead to adrenal fatigue causing the adrenals to malfunction. If the adrenals shut down, even if an oral cortisol supplement is ingested, the circadian rhythm flatlines and oscillation stops, because cortisol has a forward and reverse feedback with respect to the SCN ‘ Body clock’, in effect triggering oscillation which fail if cortisol is not released naturally. This means cortisol keeps the clock running. We could in effect add these cortisol feedback loops to our Retina-SCN-PVN-SCG-Pineal-pathway diagram below.
The graph below depicts cortisol levels in a normal sleep cycle shown in purple and sleepers with insomnia is shown in black.
The SCN (Suprachiasmatic Nucleus)
The SCN contains several cell types and several peptides ( Vasopressin ( regulation of water filtration and increases blood pressure)& Vasoactive intestinal peptide ( stimulates heart contraction & lowers blood pressure) ) and around 20,000 neurons. Interestingly enough, the function of the clock is subcellular meaning that it only takes one cell for it to work. Even fungi and bacteria have some type of 24 hour rhythmic control. This Master clock coordinates circadian rhythmicity across the entire human body by synchronising ‘slave oscillators’ ( one cell clocks) that control their own 24 hour rhythms for sleep/wake cycle, thirst/appetite, physical activity, alertness, hormone levels, body temperature, immune function and digestion. In fact neuroscientist Joseph Takahashi stated in 2013 that these slave clocks called peripheral oscillators exist in almost every cell in the body ( this is why cancer scientists are looking at interfering with these oscillators to inhibit cancer cells..probably with a drug..good luck and I hope it is successful before you retire) The SCN when isolated from the body in a petri dish will spontaneously switch every 12 hours. Although circadian rhythms are endogenous (built-in), they are adjusted (entrained) to the local environment by external cues referred to as ‘zeitgebers‘ ( time-givers) that influence the timepiece. These ‘zeitgebers’ include light, temperature and redox cycles. There is evidence to suggest that the antioxidant network that we covered in a previous article that is responsible for quelling the oxidants produced by metabolism is regulated by circadian cycles of oxidation). In animals, this internal timekeeping mechanism is essential to regulate migration, hibernation and reproduction. Arctic species are devoid of circadian rhythms in the constant light of summer and the constant dark of winter. Plant circadian rhythms tell the plant what season it is and when to flower. The fact that many physiological processes are governed by circadian regulation, it is suggested that 3 weeks of circadian dyssynchrony is enough to induce a decrease in resting metabolic rate, and raising plasma glucose concentration after a meal causing temporary symptomatic diabetes Type II.
PVN ( Paraventricular Nucleus)
his hypothalamic nucleus was featured in Article 5 of this series where we discussed the stress response pathway called the HPA (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal) or stress axis. Although not mentioned as such, the hypothalamus that releases the hormone CRH ( Corticotropin Releasing Hormone ) originates from the PVN region. The hormones full name is Paraventricular nucleus corticotropin-releasing-hormone (PVN CRH). The PVN is the single most important part of the hypothalamus, not only for stress response control, but for modulating eating/drinking behaviour, energy, wakefulness and arousal using a neuropeptide called Orexin ( 70,000 orexin producing neurons exist, that are all projected from the lateral hypothalamus. Since Orexin is released to increase the craving of food, it is inhibited by Leptin ( an adipose tissue ( fat cells) produced hormone that signals the hypothalamus that satiety has been reached – stop eating). It is also a central nexus for homeostatic control ,working through both branches of the autonomic nervous system.
SCG (Superior Cervical Ganglion)
Since the SCG is actually part of the Autonomic nervous system (ANS), and the only ganglion in the sympathetic branch that innervates the head and the neck, it makes biological sense to have part of the output circuitry of the PVN terminate here. The SCG is located opposite the second and third cervical vertebrae. The postganglionic axons ( name of the fibers within the ANS connecting the ANS to effector organs) innervate the pineal gland to regulate production of Melatonin in accordance with the circadian rhythm established by the SCN.
Pineal
As shown in the diagram above the output from the biological clock SCN is an ON/OFF switch for the pineal gland to synthesize the release of Melatonin. Light that is picked up from the environment by the photoreceptor cells in the retina activate nerve signals that stimulate the SCN. The SCN then regulate the PVN by switching it on during daylight and switching it off during night hours. During the night it releases nerve signals to the sympathetic neurons in the spinal cord and these neurons activate the SCG which delivers neurotransmitter norepinephrine to stimulate the unique melatonin secreting cells, the pinealocytes, within the pineal gland.
Pineal -Serotonin
I know what you are thinking..oh no not serotonin again..well folks melatonin is made by converting serotonin. As I explained in a previous article some serotonin is manufactured in the brain from dietary L-Tryptophan. These manufacturing sites are in the Thalamus ( 61 nanograms/gram of tissue ), the Hippocampus ( 56ng), the central gray region of the midbrain ( 482ng) and in the pineal gland (3140 ng), so the lion’s share of serotonin resides in the pineal gland for obvious reasons; to produce melatonin ( N-Acetyl-5-Methoxytryptamine or NA-5-MT) by way of an enzymatic interaction. Not only is NA-5-MT released in the bloodstream to create drowsiness in preparation for sleep, but it’s also an antioxidant for all the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) from processed food etc that one may have been eaten during the day. Furthermore, the endocrine organs such as the Pituitary, the thyroid, & Parathyroid glands, the Thymus, the Pancreas and the ovaries/testes, all secrete their own hormones, and under stress the Pituitary stimulates the secretion of these hormones. While Melatonin applies the brakes and attempts to counteract excessive hormone production, this allows the body to work through a stressful event by Melatonin, serotonin, and adrenaline all working together.
Sleep science
The brain is always active but in a different states, wakefulness and sleep. Humans spend 36% of their entire lives sleeping, give or take depending upon if you are a middle age party animal and have been since your teens. Sleep is crucial for memory consolidation, toxin clearance ( e.g beta amyloid plaques derived from misfolded proteins ( according to scientists this protein dysfunction is caused by ageing where the DNA somehow malfunctions producing bad proteins turning the cranial neurons into spaghetti causing Alzheimer’s..stay tuned for future article on this subject.), tissue repair by the release of a IGF 1 growth hormone released during non REM sleep, rebuilding of metabolic pathways that have been exhausted during our waking state, and energy replenishment. All of the brain’s neurotransmitters are active during sleep (Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, histamine, dopamine, serotonin, glutamate,GABA,Galanin and Orexin).
Non REM and REM sleep
Two types of sleep have been identified, Non REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and REM sleep. Both sleep states activate dreams, during non REM sleep the brain appears to have video recorder type controls (VCR) ; it can fast forward and reverse images ( image fragments or individual screenshots that make up a whole video). During this sleep state the brain rewinds the days activities in visual fragments and plays them back at high speed. These visual fragments are like lego blocks that build models, so the brain constructs a visual model by linking the fragments together, in order to efficiently build a visual representation of the world that the host experiences. It is reasoned that the brain is using fast forward and reverse, eliminating normal time intervals to learn from these experiences in order to adapt to tomorrow’s new ones.
Dreaming
Dreams that the host experiences, consists of , what appears to be meaningless images, but they are in fact visual fragments being displayed while the brain is ‘playing’ with its VCR controls. In order for the brain to learn, it has to put these visual fragments in an orderly sequence of events, so when it encounters a similar set of events, with a slight change ( this change could be contextual in that an activity at home is different if that same activity is played out in school or at the workplace), it can adapt very easily because of its learning capability also using acquired memories. This activity plays out during non REM sleep. During REM sleep it is possible that the brain once its compiled its model it performs a test run, but it is played back in real time as opposed to compressed fast forward/reverse playback during non REM sleep. In summary therefore, during non REM sleep the brain builds the memory model(s), and REM sleep is where the brain runs the model. Since the body’s activity follows an oscillatory pattern, the oscillations that can be viewed on an oscilloscope from the brain during its wake state and REM sleep are the same. Freud and Jung did not have the sophisticated technology available today at their disposal, so they hypothesised that dreams meant something, and over the years many books have been written to interpret dreams believing the false hypothesis of Freud. Their supposed factual credibility I believe have the same factual evidence as horoscopes..in other words none; horoscopes are written in such a way that they can apply to anyone reading them…..just like Axel Foley in Beverly Hills cop…lol:
“Harold Lutz: Who the hell are you?
Axel Foley: My… name… is… Johnny Wishbone. I am a psychic. Yes, my name is Johnny Wishbone and I am a psychic from the Isle of St. Croix. I read in the St. Croix Gazette that the Beverley Hills Police Department was having trouble solving crimes. So I came to help you out, because I am a psychic extraordinaire. But they told me you don’t need help, so I will go home. Yes, my name is Johnny Wishbone and I am a psychic from the Isle of St. Croix. You, I don’t know you. You are… MMMMmmmmmmmmmmMMM AAAhhhhhh LUTZ! Chief LUTZ! And you are… MMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmm… AAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhh…
Biddle: Biddle?
Axel Foley: BIDDLE! Yes, Biddle I was about to say that, but you beat me to it. I don’t need any help because I am Johnny Wishbone psychic extraordinaire. Just think Johnny Wishbone and I will come. Lutz and Biddle, like Kibble n’ Bits, but different.
Patrick Mcnamara PHD’s article ‘The Folly of dream interpretation’ states that “ most of the dream interpretation websites out there peddle nonsense, mostly along the lines of new age spiritualities and ideologies”, referring to their contents as ‘metaphor mongering’. He does say however, that it’s possible a dream code may exist that one day we may be able to crack, if indeed there is a dream code. It was the Ojibwe first nations tribe, living today in parts of the US, but mostly in Canada where the ‘dream catcher’ loop originates. The Dream catcher is a spider web within a handmade loop, but it is a symbol of unity among indigenous nations and an identity with Native American culture, but actually nothing to do with dreams.
To achieve a good nights sleep
To get a good night sleep your daily activities should include exposure to sunlight or even a cloudy day would suffice. In the summer I would recommend limited use of sunglasses which block the sunlight in your eyes. The more sunlight you receive the more serotonin is produced in the brain overall, especially the pineal gland, which stores enough Serotonin during the day to produce enough melatonin in preparation for sleep. When serotonin reaches its lowest level at night during slow wave sleep the pineal gland springs into action converting the serotonin into melatonin which is released prior to REM (Rapid eye movement) sleep. Melatonin release peaks are at around 2am. To achieve the best results bright days and dark nights is optimum. Melatonin suppression occurs under excessive artificial light, and it is the color of the light that also has an effect ( Blue is bad, Red is good). Light dissipation is measured in Lux ( SI unit meaning luminous flux /unit area ) = 1 lumen/metre square. For example a flux measurement of 1000 lumens concentrated over an area of 1 square metre will provide a maximum illuminance of 1000 lux, whereas the same 1000 lux will only illuminate the equivalent of 100 lux if concentrated over 10 square metres. So a standard home kitchen using 1 fluorescent lamp with an output of 12000 lumens will achieve a luminance of 500 Lux which is adequate. Twilight under a clear sky provides around 4 lux, a very dark overcast day provides around 100 lux, whereas direct sunlight provides 32,000-100,000 lux and normal daylight 10,000-25,000Lux. In terms of color UV, sun rays are in the green zone. Artificial light rich in blue light such as a TV, computer, smartphone screen are very rich is melatonin suppressing light. You can download for free the following adjustable light source :
Conclusions
In the next article we will discuss what is referred to as Parasomnia where REM sleep is disturbed and people experience an abnormal mix of REM sleep and wakefulness interacting with the live environment while the brain is partially asleep, a term you know as Sleepwalking. We have now a rudimentary understanding of the science of sleep and the biological functioning behind sleep. In addition the body achieves rhythmicity with its environment using circadian rhythms so we will discuss how SSRI antidepressants can significantly alter fragile sleep cycles, disrupt the serotonin/melatonin cycle,cause pineal gland malfunction, and trigger sleepwalking.
Miles Monroe: Where am I anyhow, I mean, what happened to everybody, where are all my friends?
Dr. Aragon: You must understand that everyone you knew in the past has been dead nearly two hundred years.
Miles Monroe: But they all ate organic rice!
Miles Monroe: [Miles gets to look at some pictures to identify the people on them] This was Josef Stalin. He was a communist, I was not too crazy about him, had a bad moustache, lot of bad habits. This is Bela Lugosi. he was, he was the mayor of New York City for a while, you can see what it did to him there, you know. This is, uhm, this is, uh, Charles De Gaulle, he, he was a very famous French chef, had his own television show, showed you how to make souffles and omelets and everything.
Miles Monroe: When I asked my mother where babies came from, she thought I said “rabies.” She said you get them from being bitten by a dog. The next week, a woman on my block gave birth to triplets… I thought she’d been bitten by a great dane.
Miles Monroe: My brain? It’s my second favorite organ!
Luna Schlosser: You were screaming out different names in your sleep.
Miles Monroe: I was having sexual nightmares.
Miles Monroe: Look, you gotta be kidding. I wanna go back to sleep! If I don’t get at least 600 years, I’m grouchy all day.
Movie quotes from ‘Sleeper’ 1973
References/Acknowledgments :
- Circadian redox oscillations & metabolism Miley & Reddy 2015 NCBI
- Melanopsin,Circadian rhythmns,Orexin, SCG, Dreamcatcher Wikipedia
- Melatonin:from Molecule to Therapy Pandi, Perumal, & Cardinali
- Regulation of Circadian clocks by Redox homeostasis Stangherlin & Reddy Journal of Biological Chemistry
- PVN of Hypothalamus Science Direct
- The PVN of the Hypothalamus: A potential target for integrative treatment of Autonomic dysfunction Ferguson, Latchford & Samson 2008 NCBI
- Sleep series -Part 3 Serotonin, Melatonin & your circadian rhythmn Garham Ballachey 2014 Sustainable balance blog
- The Mind after midnight: Where do we go when we go to sleep Utube 2015 Video World Science Sleep festival
- The Science of sleep : Melatonin to Neural pathways Utube video 2016 The Royal Institute
- The folly of dream interpretation Patrick Mcnamara 2013 Psychology Today
- Sleeper quotes IMDB
- Beverly Hills Cop II quotes Great quotes.com
- SSRIs and the Pineal Gland 2003 Charles Groenendijk