Question 1

The primary feature of obstructive sleep apnea is that the sleeper repeatedly stops breathing during the night.

Accepted Answer

This is correct. Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete blockage of the upper airway during sleep, leading to frequent interruptions in breathing. As a result, the sleeper may experience snoring, gasping, or choking episodes throughout the night, along with disrupted or poor quality sleep.

Question 2

Chronic insomnia lasts from one or two nights to a couple of weeks. Symptoms of transient insomnia occur three nights each week and persist for a month or longer.

Accepted Answer

Chronic insomnia lasts for longer than a couple of weeks, while symptoms of transient insomnia occur less frequently (three nights per week) and persist for a shorter duration (less than a month).

Question 3

In obstructive sleep apnea the sleeper's airway becomes narrowed or blocked. This causes very shallow breathing or repeated pauses in breathing. Sleep apnea episodes can occur 300 or more times over the course of a night.

Accepted Answer

This is a correct description of obstructive sleep apnea.

Question 4

Unlike other sleep disorders, the symptoms of narcolepsy occur during the day.

Accepted Answer

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness, often resulting in sudden and uncontrollable sleep attacks throughout the day. These daytime symptoms distinguish narcolepsy from other sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome, which typically affect nighttime sleep.

Question 5

Cataplexy is the sudden loss of voluntary muscle strength and control, lasting from several seconds to several minutes, that is usually triggered by a sudden intense emotion, such as laughter, anger, fear, or surprise.

Accepted Answer

This statement correctly defines cataplexy, which is a symptom of narcolepsy. It is characterized by sudden episodes of muscle weakness, usually triggered by strong emotions, without a loss of consciousness.

Question 6

Narcolepsy is another name for somnambulism.

Accepted Answer

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep, while somnambulism is a sleep disorder characterized by walking or performing other activities while still asleep. They are not the same condition.

Question 7

People are said to experience narcolepsy when they repeatedly complain about the quality or duration of their sleep, have difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep, or wake before it's time to get up.

Accepted Answer

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks, not by complaints about sleep quality or insomnia.

Question 8

Hypocretins are produced exclusively by neurons in the hypothalamus. Low levels are implicated in narcolepsy.

Accepted Answer

Hypocretins (also known as orexins) are peptides that are produced solely by neurons in the hypothalamus. Low levels of hypocretins have been linked to narcolepsy, a condition characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep.

Question 9

Narcolepsy is characterized by overwhelming bouts of excessive daytime sleepiness and brief uncontrollable episodes of sleep that are called microsleeps or sleep attacks.

Accepted Answer

Narcolepsy is indeed characterized by overwhelming bouts of excessive daytime sleepiness and brief uncontrollable episodes of sleep that are called microsleeps or sleep attacks.

Question 10

Specialized neurons in the hypothalamus actively produce hypocretins during the daytime to maintain a steady state of wakefulness.

Accepted Answer

Specialized neurons in the hypothalamus, called hypocretin-producing neurons or orexin-producing neurons, actively produce hypocretins during the daytime to promote wakefulness and maintain a stable state of arousal. Dysfunction or loss of these neurons has been associated with sleep disorders such as narcolepsy.

Question 11

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by overwhelming bouts of excessive daytime sleepiness and brief uncontrollable episodes of sleep that are called microsleeps or sleep attacks.

Accepted Answer

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the airway during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep and reduced oxygen levels, not primarily by excessive daytime sleepiness or sleep attacks.

Question 12

Insomnia tends to increase with age.

Accepted Answer

Insomnia is more common in older adults, especially those over the age of 60. This may be due to changes in sleep patterns and hormone levels as people age, as well as other factors such as medical conditions or medication use.

Question 13

Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common in women than in men.

Accepted Answer

Obstructive sleep apnea is actually more common in men than in women. However, this condition is often underdiagnosed in women due to differences in symptom presentation and a lack of awareness among healthcare providers.

Question 14

Transient insomnia lasts from one or two nights to a couple of weeks. Symptoms of chronic insomnia occur three nights each week and persist for a month or longer.

Accepted Answer

This statement correctly describes the distinction between transient and chronic insomnia.

Question 15

One common symptom of insomnia is waking up during the night and being unable to go back to sleep.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. People who have insomnia often experience difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep, which can result in waking up during the night and being unable to return to sleep.

Question 16

A sudden loss of voluntary muscle strength and control that is usually triggered by an intense emotion and often occurs during episodes of narcolepsy is called somnambulism.

Accepted Answer

The condition described is not somnambulism, but rather cataplexy, which is a symptom of narcolepsy. Somnambulism is a type of sleepwalking, which is not related to narcolepsy or emotional triggers.

Question 17

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by the sudden loss of voluntary muscle strength and control, and it is usually triggered by a sudden intense emotion, such as laughter, anger, fear, or surprise.

Accepted Answer

Obstructive sleep apnea is actually caused by a physical obstruction of the airway during sleep, which can lead to pauses in breathing and loud snoring. It is not typically triggered by sudden emotions.

Question 18

Narcolepsy is characterized by the sleeper's airway becoming narrow or blocked, which causes very shallow breathing or repeated pauses in breathing during sleep.

Accepted Answer

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden loss of muscle tone (cataplexy), and sometimes vivid hallucinations during sleep onset or upon waking up. It is not directly related to airway obstructive events.

Question 19

Most commonly, insomnia can be traced to anxiety and stressful life events.

Accepted Answer

Insomnia is often associated with anxiety, especially when caused by worrying about sleep itself. Stressful life events, such as work or family issues, can also contribute to insomnia.

Question 20

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a therapy used to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Accepted Answer

CPAP is indeed a therapy used to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Quiz 4: Consciousness and Its Variations