What is the main idea of the Restoration Theory?

During sleep, important biological functions take place, restoring the body to better order.

Name the Psychologist who proposed the differentiation between REM and SWS in the Restoration Theory/

(Initials: O)

Oswald

What did Oswald propose were the different functions of SWS and REM sleep in the Restoration Theory?

SWS enables body repair

REM enables brain recovery

Outline 3 points as to why SWS is important

in the Restoration Theory?

1/ Growth Hormone is minly released during SWS.

2/ GH is important in childhood for growing.

3/ GH is important in adulthood as it enables protein synthesis which is vital in the restoration of fragile body tissues.

Name 2 Psychologists who investigated SWS in the Restoration Theory?

(V-C, K)

Van Cauter et al.

Krueger et al.

What did Van Cauter et al. show about SWS in the Restoration Theory?

Found that the amount of GH released correlates with the amount of SWS. Decline of GH in old age is associated with reduced SWS.

What did Krueger et al. show about SWS in the

Restoration Theory?

Lack of SWS is associated with poor immune system functioning.

Name the 3 important factors associated with REM sleep in the Restoration Theory?

1/ Brain Growth

2/ Neurotransmitters

3/ Memory

What is the role of REM sleep in Brain Growth in the Restoration Theory?

The amount of REM sleep is proportional to the immaturity of the offspring at birth, which is why humans needs so much. For example, dolphins can swim from birth and need little REM sleep whereas the platypus is more immature and needs lots of REM sleep.

What is the role of REM sleep in Neurotransmitters in the Restoration Theory?

REM sleep allows for a break in neurotransmitter production which allows for the neurons to regain sensitivity. Antidepressant drugs aim to increase the levels of neurotransmitters, which in turn,  means there is no need for REM sleep.

What is the role of REM/SWS sleep in Memory in the

Restoration Theory?

REM is important in the condolidation of procedural memory (skills).

SWS is important in the consolidation of episodic

memory (events).

 Who proposed the theories into Brain Growth and neurotransmitters in REM sleep in the Restoration Theory?

(Initials: S)

Siegel

Name 3 Psychologists supporting the 

Restoration Theory?

(R, S, PT)

Rechtschaffen et al.

Shapiro et al.

Peter Tripp

Why does Rechtschaffen et al. support the 

Restoration Theory?

Forced rats to remain physically active by rotating the disc they were standing on. After 33 days, all sleep-deprived rats had died.

Why does Shapiro et al. support the

Restoration Theory?

Found that Marathon runners slept for an hour or two extra on the nights following the race, in order to restore the proteins and biochemicals used.

Why does Peter Tripp support the 

Restoration Theory?

(case study)

Stayed awake for 201 hours to raise money for charity. Gradually, his mood decreased and he became paranoid and hallucinating. His core body temperature declined and researchers found his brain patterns indistinguishabe from a sleeping person.

Name 2 Psychologists criticising the Restoration Theory and 2 IDA points?

(R, H&M, CS, EA)

Rattenborg et al.

Horne & Minard

Case Studies

Evolutionary Approach

Why does Rattenborg et al. criticise the

Restoration Theory?

Conducted a similar experiment to Rechtschaffen et al.'s but used pigeons instead and found they suffered no ill effects. Suggests that maybe stress rather than lack of sleep was the cause of the rats death.

Why do Horne & Minard criticise the

Restoration Theory?

Gave participants exhausting tasks but found that their sleep duration did not change - countering Shapiro et al.'s findings.

Why are the use of Case Studies an issue for the

Restoration Theory?

Focuses on individuals/small groups with individual differences whose results may not be generalisable to everyone else. Someone who has difficulty sleeping is less likely to volunteer for a study based around sleep and so the volunteers would only reflect a small sample of the population.

Why is the evolutionary approach a criticism of the

Restoration Theory?

It can account for things which the restoration theory cannot such as why mature animals sleep if they don't need it.