Skip to main content

Sleep Regulation

Meaning

Sleep regulation is the complex, homeostatic process by which the body controls the timing, duration, and architecture of sleep to ensure adequate rest and restoration. This physiological process is governed by two primary forces: the homeostatic drive for sleep, which increases with prolonged wakefulness, and the circadian rhythm, which dictates the timing of sleep and wakefulness over a 24-hour cycle. Effective sleep regulation is paramount for hormonal health, as many critical endocrine functions, including the pulsatile release of growth hormone and the circadian rhythm of cortisol, are tightly coupled to sleep stages. Chronic dysregulation of sleep can lead to impaired glucose metabolism, HPA axis dysfunction, and compromised immune surveillance.