ABSTRACT
Sleep is an active and integral component of central nervous system (CNS), and may be one of its most important functions. Sleep is generated exclusively by the brain, and the brain is the sole benefactor of sleep: there is little evidence that any other organ system requires or benefits from sleep. All elements of wake/ sleep function [the biological clock and the generators of all three states of being wakefulness, nonrapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep] reside in the brain. That given, it would be expected that any condition that affects the CNS could possibly result in abnormalities of wake/sleep functioning. The ostensible purpose of this chapter is to review the effects of acquired brain dysfunction on wakefulness and sleep. The true purposes of this chapter are to underscore the fact that there is a massive void of knowledge in this most important area, and to encourage further study-the results of which will add immeasurably to our knowledge of brain function and of the wake/sleep process.
