Skip to main content

Adenosine Pressure Gradient

Meaning

This term refers to the physiological difference in adenosine concentration that builds up in the brain during wakefulness, acting as a primary driver for sleep initiation. The increasing gradient of adenosine, a neuromodulator, exerts a homeostatic pressure that signals the necessity for rest to the central nervous system. This pressure directly correlates with accumulated sleep need and the intensity of subsequent deep sleep. Maintaining a healthy pressure gradient is essential for consistent sleep architecture and restorative hormonal pulses.