Developmental Aspects of Sleep

Sleep undergoes remarkable changes during early development in humans and the most studied experimental model rat. Albeit practical challenges, it is interesting to study the macro- and micro-architecture of EEG during critical stages of development to get an insight into the neuronal plasticity involved in network formation for the complex process of sleep-wakefulness. Various clues derived from experimental condition including sleep deprivation during pregnancy have aided in the understanding of distinct time-line defined development of sleep. Understanding of sleep-wakefulness during development can provide important clues about associated disorders in sleep architecture, sleep bouts and sleep fragmentation. Detection of sleep changes in neonates may be of great clinical significance and can be viewed as an early marker of psychobehavioural disorders that may appear later in life.