Insomnia is not just a problem that happens at night. According to researchers, insomnia is tied to different brain activities – and those that suffer from this sleeping difficulty may also have different brain activity at all times of the day.
In fact, according to Rachel E. Salas, M.D insomnia is not a nighttime disorder at all, rather it is a 24-hour a day condition. According to the results of the study, people who have insomnia tend to have more alert. Originally, Salas thought that people who sleep soundly would have more alert brains with more plasticity, but it turns out that she was wrong.
People with insomnia have a motor cortex that is more adaptable to change than those who sleep well. The neurons in the same region of the brain were more excited with those with chronic insomnia than with those who didn’t have it.
This could mean that people who have insomnia are in a heightened state of awareness and this could be what interferes with their sleep.
Your overactive brain may be hyper aroused and you could find that you are as alert at four in the morning as you are at four in the afternoon.
So what came first?
Researchers are still not sure. The study wasn’t designed to find that out, so we are still not sure whether people who suffer from chronic insomnia have more active brains or if not getting enough sleep will leave you in a state of hyperarousal. The study did show that if you give both good sleepers and insomniacs an easy task, they will perform at approximately the same level. However, when they are presented with more complex tasks, insomniacs have a harder time completing with them.
There are different types of insomnia and they are usually tied to different things. The best way to treat it is by taking care of any underlying problems and practicing good sleep hygiene. If chronic insomnia is bothering you, you should place a call to the doctor.
