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Hormonal Regulation of Sleep

Meaning

Hormonal Regulation of Sleep refers to the complex neuroendocrine interplay that governs the timing, architecture, and quality of the sleep-wake cycle through the rhythmic secretion of key signaling molecules. Melatonin and cortisol are the most prominent regulators, orchestrating the transition from wakefulness to sleep and back to alertness, respectively. Beyond these, hormones such as growth hormone, thyroid hormones, and leptin significantly modulate sleep-dependent restorative processes and metabolic function during the nocturnal period. Disruption in this regulatory cascade is a primary cause of chronic sleep disorders.