Salts in the brain control our sleep-wake cycle

Eureka Alert ^ | 4/29/2016 | University of Copenhagen The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

[molewhacka]

Danish research is behind a new epoch-making discovery, which may prove decisive to future brain research. The level of salts in the brain plays a critical role in whether we are asleep or awake. This discovery may be of great importance to research on psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and convulsive fits from lack of sleep as well as post-anaesthetization confusion, according to Professor Maiken Nedergaard.

Salts in our brain decide whether we are asleep or awake. For the first time, researchers have shown that the level of salts in our body and brain differ depending on whether we are asleep or awake. A new study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that by influencing the level of salts, it is possible to control a mouse's sleep-wake cycle. The research has just been published in the scientific journal, SCIENCE...

[ROCKLOBSTER]

two or three sunny side eggs always knock me out pretty good! Might be the tryptophan...

Are they turkey eggs?

[Robert DeLong]

That wasn’t my question, which was does the salt make one sleepy or awake?

[molewhacka]

Do you put salt on your grits? I only ask since I assume as a civilized member of society that you have grits with your eggs, even though you didn’t mention doing so. Probably just an oversight on your part.

I would blame the salt on the grits.

You may also consider the level of salt on your bacon. I only say this since I assume as a civilized member of society that you have bacon with your eggs and grits, even though you didn’t mention doing so. You probably just forgot to mention that because of all the salt your putting on your grits.

Lastly, are you using salted or unsalted butter on your toast? I only ask since I assume as a civilized member of society that you have heavily buttered toast with your eggs, grits and bacon, even though you didn’t mention doing so. Probably just an oversight on your part after waking from your nap after eating all of those eggs, grits, bacon and heavily buttered toast.

I suggest cutting out the eggs since the grits, bacon and heavily buttered toast probably already contain more than enough salt.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

my question, which was does the salt make one sleepy or awake?

Well, the answer is obviously:

arousal was linked to AMPA receptor–independent elevations of [K+]e concomitant with decreases in [Ca2+]e, [Mg2+]e, [H+]e, and the extracellular volume. Opposite, natural sleep and anesthesia reduced [K+]e while increasing [Ca2+]e, [Mg2+]e, and [H+]e as well as the extracellular volume.

[tired&retired]

Here is the quick and dirty simple explanation of how neural transmission happens. This explaines the effect of both salts and calcium.

Neurons send messages electrochemically. This means that chemicals cause an electrical signal. Chemicals in the body are "electrically-charged" -- when they have an electrical charge, they are called ions. The important ions in the nervous system are sodium and potassium (both have 1 positive charge, +), calcium (has 2 positive charges, ++) and chloride (has a negative charge, -).

ACTION POTENTIAL: Reversal of RMP for a very short period on applying a stimulus. Value: + 30 to + 60 mV. It consists of 4 stages, namely:

a) Depolarization: Usually RMP = - 85 mV. When an impulse comes, polarization gets reversed, i.e., inside (+ve) and outside (-ve). This is known as depolarization. It rises sharply when RMP attains – 70 mV. It is also known as spike potential.

b) Repolarization: The restoration of normal RMP within a short time (1/2 of a msec). It starts fast but becomes slower and takes a longer period to reach the normal state. c) Negative after potential: Also known as After depolarization (AD). The slower and longer period taken to reach normal RMP (2 – 15 msec).

d) Positive after potential: Also known as After hyperpolarization (AH). Even after AD, the membrane potential becomes even more – ve than the normal (- 85 mV) and remains –ve for about 50 msec or longer.

[bert]

salted grits, salted butter, salted eggs......

regarding the grits, peppered as well

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Yes, but “as a civilized member of society” is he using Sodium salt, Magnesium salt, Potassium salt, or Calcium salt on his bacon, eggs and grits?

(dammit, now I have to have bacon, eggs and grits)

[molewhacka]

How Salt Can Help You Get Better Sleep
http://healyeatsreal.com/how-salt-can-help-you-get-better-sleep/

Some people take a salt supplement in order to enhance their sleep.

[tired&retired]

You need to understand both transmission within a neuron and across the synaptic cleft.

Drugs like Prozac and Sarafem are an antidepressant of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) type and work in the synaptic cleft by blocking the re-uptake of neurotransmitters, resulting in a blocked transmission.

Most people don’t realize that they knock off the lows and the highs. In my prayer studies, it was much more difficult for people on antidepressants to pray effectively.

[A_perfect_lady]

If he’s using Sea Salt, I want him banned. Damned liberal.

[USCG SimTech]

The sodium - potassium pump and water is the the 3-legged stool for all cellular functions. Yet the 12-cell salts and 15 tissue salts (and water) is a more complete picture of the holistic human organism. A balanced diet gets you these fairly easily if you take the time to ensure diversity and balance.

http://www.schuessler-cell-salts.com/list/index.htm

[molewhacka]

An upper class “civilized member of society” uses Sodium salt on the eggs, Magnesium salt on the grits, Potassium salt on the bacon, and Calcium salt in the butter.

The rest of us just pour Mortons on everything and call it good.

[Robert DeLong]

How did I miss that? LOL

[molewhacka]

I was stalling until someone who actually knows what they are talking about joined the thread.

I will now defer all technical questions to you.

Thanks!

[tired&retired]

Milk and milk products contain the sleep-inducing amino acid tryptophan.

Tryptophan is an amino acid that promotes sleep and is found in small amounts in all protein foods. It is a precursor to the sleep-inducing compounds serotonin (a neurotransmitter), and melatonin (a hormone which also acts as a neurotransmitter).

Thus, for tryptophan to have a sedative effect, it needs to enter the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier. Additionally, since tryptophan uses the same transport system as other amino acids, it has to compete against them to enter the brain.

[Robert DeLong]

Thank you. I take it table salt does not have the same affect, since I salt everything, and I do mean everything. It is rare that I sleep for very long periods.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Some people take a salt supplement in order to enhance their sleep.

Just to throw a monkey wrench into the works here:

I religiously take a MagOx cap every night to eliminate leg cramps. It works like magic, and I sleep like a "rock".

[JoeProBono]

[exDemMom]

The rest of us just pour Mortons on everything and call it good.

Aw, gee, I'm going to be an outcast here. Sure, I have a box of Morton's in the cupboard, but when it comes to dousing food with salt, I grind pink Himalayan rock salt over my food.

It isn't because of any imaginary health benefits--in fact, it is probably less healthy than Morton's since I am not getting iodine in the salt. But the pink salt looks really cool.

[molewhacka]

Pink Himalayan rock salt was formed when the alien motherships blasted off for the return trip to GN-z11.

I would be careful putting that stuff on my food no matter how pretty it looks.