Abstract
Approximately 25–37% of adult brain activity occurs during sleep. In childhood, a time of accelerated learning and memory, 40–70% of brain activity transpires as the child sleeps. The specifics necessitating sleep remain elusive, however, key studies indicate that several processes involved in restoring homeostasis are facilitated. The efficacy of anabolic processes (restorative theory), energy conservation and immune defense are correlated with sleep efficiency. In addition, sleep enhances synaptic plasticity and cognition, and can improve affective behaviors. As such, intentionally structured sleep can be exploited as both a preventative measure and used as an adjuvant restorative therapy to potentially diminish the severity of disease states and the degree of comorbidity afflictions. In this chapter we will discuss (i) the neurobiology and physiology of sleep homeostasis and our circadian rhythms, and (ii) the intersection of these processes with neurological diseases and affective disorders.