Abstract
We spend one-third of our lives in sleep, yet the core function of it still remains
an enigma due to underlying complex neural processing in this altered state of consciousness.
Sleep requirement varies with phase of development. Neonates spent about 85% of their
time in sleep, which is polyphasic in nature. Gradually, this pattern takes the shape
of a monophasic sleep in adolescents and adults, with changing micro- and macroarchitecture
in every phase. Deprivation of sleep in adults impairs learning and memory, and reduces
theta coherence among hippocampus and amygdale during sleep. However, sleep loss during
pregnancy can affect the ontogenetic development of networks for sleep–wakefulness
and the cognitive development of offspring. Even in normal pregnancy, poor sleep quality,
reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and sleep fragmentation are common observation
during the last trimester of pregnancy. Delta power, a marker for the homeostatic
drive for sleep, in the NREM sleep during the last trimester of pregnancy and postpartum
is increased. However, further sleep loss during late pregnancy is a growing concern.
Neonates that are born to the total sleep-restricted dams present significant alterations
in their emotional development (symptoms of hyperactivity, increased risk-taking behavior
during periadolescence) and immature sleep–wakefulness patterns. The REM sleep restriction
during late pregnancy elicits depressionlike traits in neonates, which persist until
middle age. For a healthy development of brain and body, thorough understanding of
the dynamic nature of sleep in relation to age and state (pregnancy) is instrumental
in preventing the above-mentioned conditions of prenatal origin. Although sleep is
essential for an active brain (for work during day), it remains an underestimated
phenomenon. This review highlights the importance of sleep during pregnancy for a
healthy brain network programming in offspring.
Keywords REM sleep restriction - total sleep restriction - hyperactivity - depression - sleep
loss during pregnancy - cognition - human - rat - behavior
