There may not yet be a cure for insomnia1, but Concordia University researchers are a step closer to predicting who is most likely to suffer from it -- just in time for World Sleep Day on March 13. In his study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Thien Thanh Dang-Vu, from Concordia's Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology and PERFORM Center, explores the impact of stress on sleep. Although researchers already know that stressful events can trigger insomnia, the experiment reveals that some people are more vulnerable than others to developing the condition.
To determine the role of stress, the study examined the sleep cycles of 12 Concordia students as they went through the nerve-racking experience of finals. Measuring students' brain waves at the beginning of the school semester, Dang-Vu and his team found that students showing a lower amount of a particular pattern of brain waves were more at risk for developing insomnia afterwards in response to the stress of the exams.
The brain -- specifically the deep, inner parts of the brain called the thalamus and cortex -- produces electromagnetic activity during sleep. When monitored by diagnostic tools, this activity appears as patterns of squiggly lines that scientists refer to as spindles.
In a previous experiment, Dang-Vu and his team discovered that greater spindle activity helps sleepers2 resist waking, despite noise. The new study aimed to test whether there would be a similar relationship between spindles and stress.
The hypothesis proved true. "We found that those who had the lowest spindle activity tended to develop more disturbances3 in response to stress, when comparing sleep quality at the beginning of the semester and the end of the school semester," Dang-Vu says.
"We are not all equally armed when facing stress, in terms of how we can manage our sleep. Some people are more vulnerable than others."
So how do you get these better spindles? Are there meditation4 practices you can adopt? Will gyms begin introducing spindle classes? Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do at the moment, since spindles seem to be at least partially5 dependent on genetics.
But Dang-Vu, who is a medical doctor and neurologist at the Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, says that exploring ways to improve spindles is another prospective6 area for research. Measuring spindle activity may also help identify people at risk of insomnia before the condition materializes.
In the meantime, we should all keep abiding7 by the habits already acknowledged to promote a good night's sleep, Dang-Vu says. "Avoid sources of stress when going to bed, preserve the bedroom environment for sleep and not for work, and avoid stimulation8. Find ways to relax before going to sleep."
词汇解析表;
1 insomnia
n. 失眠，失眠症
参考例句：
Worries and tenseness can lead to insomnia.忧虑和紧张会导致失眠。
He is suffering from insomnia.他患失眠症。
2 sleepers
n. 卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环
参考例句：
He trod quietly so as not to disturb the sleepers. 他轻移脚步，以免吵醒睡着的人。 来自辞典例句
The nurse was out, and we two sleepers were alone. 保姆出去了，只剩下我们两个瞌睡虫。 来自辞典例句
3 disturbances
n. 骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍
参考例句：
The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。 4 meditation
n. 熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl. ）冥想录
参考例句：
This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。 I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。
5 partially
adv. 部分地，从某些方面讲
参考例句：
The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。
6 prospective
adj. 预期的，未来的，前瞻性的
参考例句：
The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。
7 abiding
adj. 永久的，持久的，不变的
参考例句：
He had an abiding love of the English countryside.他永远热爱英国的乡村。
He has a genuine and abiding love of the craft.他对这门手艺有着真挚持久的热爱。 8 stimulation
n. 刺激，激励，鼓舞
参考例句：
The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。
更多英语学习方法：企业英语培训
There may not yet be a cure for insomnia1, but Concordia University researchers are a step closer to predicting who is most likely to suffer from it -- just in time for World Sleep Day on March 13. In his study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Thien Thanh Dang-Vu, from Concordia's Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology and PERFORM Center, explores the impact of stress on sleep. Although researchers already know that stressful events can trigger insomnia, the experiment reveals that some people are more vulnerable than others to developing the condition.
To determine the role of stress, the study examined the sleep cycles of 12 Concordia students as they went through the nerve-racking experience of finals. Measuring students' brain waves at the beginning of the school semester, Dang-Vu and his team found that students showing a lower amount of a particular pattern of brain waves were more at risk for developing insomnia afterwards in response to the stress of the exams.
The brain -- specifically the deep, inner parts of the brain called the thalamus and cortex -- produces electromagnetic activity during sleep. When monitored by diagnostic tools, this activity appears as patterns of squiggly lines that scientists refer to as spindles.
In a previous experiment, Dang-Vu and his team discovered that greater spindle activity helps sleepers2 resist waking, despite noise. The new study aimed to test whether there would be a similar relationship between spindles and stress.
The hypothesis proved true. "We found that those who had the lowest spindle activity tended to develop more disturbances3 in response to stress, when comparing sleep quality at the beginning of the semester and the end of the school semester," Dang-Vu says.
"We are not all equally armed when facing stress, in terms of how we can manage our sleep. Some people are more vulnerable than others."
So how do you get these better spindles? Are there meditation4 practices you can adopt? Will gyms begin introducing spindle classes? Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do at the moment, since spindles seem to be at least partially5 dependent on genetics.
But Dang-Vu, who is a medical doctor and neurologist at the Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, says that exploring ways to improve spindles is another prospective6 area for research. Measuring spindle activity may also help identify people at risk of insomnia before the condition materializes.
In the meantime, we should all keep abiding7 by the habits already acknowledged to promote a good night's sleep, Dang-Vu says. "Avoid sources of stress when going to bed, preserve the bedroom environment for sleep and not for work, and avoid stimulation8. Find ways to relax before going to sleep."
词汇解析表;
1 insomnia
n. 失眠，失眠症
参考例句：
Worries and tenseness can lead to insomnia.忧虑和紧张会导致失眠。
He is suffering from insomnia.他患失眠症。
2 sleepers
n. 卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环
参考例句：
He trod quietly so as not to disturb the sleepers. 他轻移脚步，以免吵醒睡着的人。 来自辞典例句
The nurse was out, and we two sleepers were alone. 保姆出去了，只剩下我们两个瞌睡虫。 来自辞典例句
3 disturbances
n. 骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍
参考例句：
The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。 4 meditation
n. 熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl. ）冥想录
参考例句：
This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。 I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。
5 partially
adv. 部分地，从某些方面讲
参考例句：
The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。
6 prospective
adj. 预期的，未来的，前瞻性的
参考例句：
The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。
7 abiding
adj. 永久的，持久的，不变的
参考例句：
He had an abiding love of the English countryside.他永远热爱英国的乡村。
He has a genuine and abiding love of the craft.他对这门手艺有着真挚持久的热爱。 8 stimulation
n. 刺激，激励，鼓舞
参考例句：
The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。
更多英语学习方法：企业英语培训