Embracing sleep-onset complexity.
Célia Lacaux, Mélanie Strauss, Tristan A Bekinschtein, Delphine Oudiette
Trends in Neurosciences April 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.02.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | N1 sleep Cognition Drowsiness Falling asleep Sleep-onset disorders |
| Key findings | Proposes that the sleep-onset period, often treated as a mere prelude, has distinct neural, cognitive, and clinical features that warrant further investigation and may offer cognitive benefits. |
Abstract
Sleep is crucial for many vital functions and has been extensively studied. By contrast, the sleep-onset period (SOP), often portrayed as a mere prelude to sleep, has been largely overlooked and remains poorly characterized. Recent findings, however, have reignited interest in this transitional period and have shed light on its neural mechanisms, cognitive dynamics, and clinical implications. This review synthesizes the existing knowledge about the SOP in humans. We first examine the current definition of the SOP and its limits, and consider the dynamic and complex electrophysiological changes that accompany the descent to sleep. We then describe the interplay between internal and external processing during the wake-to-sleep transition. Finally, we discuss the putative cognitive benefits of the SOP and identify novel directions to better diagnose sleep-onset disorders.