ABSTRACT
Sleep is highly variable across the human life span, with developmental stage being a major factor that determines sleep stage distribution and duration. Research indicates that women experience increased sleep disturbances over the three premenstrual days and the first four days during menstruation than during their mid-follicular or luteal phases. The pruning of neurons aids in healthy adolescent maturation as elimination of infrequently used synapses strengthens frequently used synapses, resulting in increases in cognitive power and ability. This maturational pruning process is thought to be reflected in the marked changes in sleep. Sleep behaviour shows marked changes across the lifespan, with particularly drastic changes during adolescence that continue, albeit at a slower rate, into young adulthood. It is clear that acute and chronic alcohol consumption can have severe effects on physiology, particularly on neuronal systems controlling sleep and wake. Sleep disruption can result from both acute and chronic alcohol consumption.
