Your sleep-wake cycle is regulated by a small gland in the brain called the pineal gland. The pineal gland receives and interprets light and darkness signals from the eyes health.
Chemical messengers translate these signals into the production of melatonin. A hormone that makes you feel sleepy.สมัคร ufabet
The pineal gland has receptors for both dopamine and serotonin.
Dopamine
Dopamine is associated with wakefulness. Drugs that increase dopamine levels. Such as cocaine and amphetamines, typically increase alertness.
In addition, diseases that decrease dopamine production, such as Parkinson’s disease, often cause drowsiness.
In the pineal gland, dopamine can stop the effects of norepinephrine. A neurotransmitter involved in producing and releasing melatonin. When influenced by dopamine, your pineal gland makes and releases less melatonin, causing you to perk up.
A 2012 study also found that sleep deprivation decreases the availability of certain types of dopamine receptors. With fewer receptors, dopamine doesn’t have anywhere to attach to. As a result, it’s harder to stay awake.
Serotonin
Serotonin’s role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle is complex. While it helps in maintaining , it can also prevent you from falling asleep.
How serotonin affects sleep depends on the part of the brain it comes from, the type of serotonin receptor it binds to, and several other factors.
In a part of your brain called the dorsal raphe nucleus, high serotonin is associated with wakefulness. However, an accumulation of serotonin in the area over time may put you to sleep.
Serotonin is also involved in preventing rapid eye movement (REM). Studies have shown that increasing serotonin through the use of SSRIs reduces REM sleep.
While serotonin seems to both induce sleep and keep you up. It’s a chemical precursor to melatonin, the main hormone involved in sleep. Your body needs serotonin from your pineal gland to produce melatonin.