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Sleep Hormones

Meaning

Sleep hormones are a collective term for the key endocrine signaling molecules that regulate the initiation, maintenance, and architecture of the sleep-wake cycle and whose secretion is tightly controlled by the circadian rhythm. The primary examples include melatonin, which signals darkness and promotes sleep propensity, and cortisol, whose awakening response promotes arousal. Other crucial regulators are Growth Hormone and Prolactin, which are released during specific sleep stages to support cellular repair and immune function. The coordinated rhythm of these hormones is essential for restorative sleep.