The brain continues to fascinate. I wonder how the brain acts while under anesthesia or induced to sleep through sleep aids? Is it different than naturally falling asleep?
More particularly, it sounds like brain cells (At least in mice) shrink during sleep and then enlarge during wakeful consciousness. That shrinking mechanism may play a role in the cerebrospinal fluid recycling/cleaning process, which itself may play a role in ridding the brain of harmful plaques. Does an Alzheimer's patient not show the same level of growth and shrinkage? Could forced sleep improve their outcomes? (IE: Could forced sleep lead to a more normal growth/shrink cycle?)
I am, unfortunately, ignorant on most of the medical science at play here. Any biologists, doctors or hobbyists have any thoughts?
A smattering of other differences off the top of my head: you can feel pain when you're asleep, but not under anesthesia. It is possible to wake up a sleeping subject or patient with sounds or shaking, but not one under anesthesia. Also you'll feel refreshed after you sleep, but not after anesthesia.
Also you'll feel refreshed after you sleep, but not after anesthesia.
When I had general anesthesia for my wisdom teeth I definitely felt refreshed afterwards. I'm wondering if this idea isn't so well grounded, since we mostly anesthetize and then do violent surgery on people - and so you mostly wake up feeling that.
More particularly, it sounds like brain cells (At least in mice) shrink during sleep and then enlarge during wakeful consciousness. That shrinking mechanism may play a role in the cerebrospinal fluid recycling/cleaning process, which itself may play a role in ridding the brain of harmful plaques. Does an Alzheimer's patient not show the same level of growth and shrinkage? Could forced sleep improve their outcomes? (IE: Could forced sleep lead to a more normal growth/shrink cycle?)
I am, unfortunately, ignorant on most of the medical science at play here. Any biologists, doctors or hobbyists have any thoughts?