Sleep Course

Lesson 1 • The Two-Process Model of Sleep Regulation

Explains Process S (homeostatic drive) and Process C (circadian rhythm) and their interaction in determining sleep timing and depth. Prepares students for circadian science in the next section.

Lesson 2 • What Sleep Is and Why It Matters

Defines sleep as an active physiological state and distinguishes it from rest or unconsciousness. Anchors the chapter by establishing why sleep is essential to survival.

Lesson 3 • Sleep Architecture and Staging

Describes NREM stages 1–3 and REM sleep, including their EEG signatures and physiological characteristics. Establishes the cycle structure used throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Brain Structures Governing Sleep

Identifies key neural regions—hypothalamus, brainstem, thalamus—that regulate sleep onset and maintenance. Provides anatomical grounding for later discussions of disorders.

Lesson 1 • Chronotypes and Individual Variation

Covers morning, intermediate, and evening chronotypes and their genetic, age, and sex determinants. Enables practitioners to personalize sleep timing recommendations.

Lesson 2 • Non-Light Zeitgebers and Meal Timing

Examines food intake, exercise, temperature, and social cues as secondary circadian synchronizers. Broadens the toolkit for circadian alignment beyond light.

Lesson 3 • Circadian Misalignment and Health Consequences

Links chronic circadian disruption to metabolic, cardiovascular, immune, and mental health risks. Motivates the clinical and occupational importance of circadian alignment.

Lesson 4 • Light as the Primary Zeitgeber

Details how retinal melanopsin cells detect light and entrain the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Explains why light exposure timing is the most powerful circadian tool.

Lesson 1 • Infant and Toddler Sleep Development

Describes polyphasic sleep patterns, REM dominance, and circadian immaturity in the first two years. Establishes the developmental baseline for pediatric sleep guidance.

Lesson 2 • Pregnancy and Postpartum Sleep

Addresses hormonal, anatomical, and behavioral factors disrupting sleep during pregnancy and after birth. Provides evidence-based strategies for this high-risk period.

Lesson 3 • Childhood and Adolescent Sleep Needs

Covers recommended durations, slow-wave sleep abundance, and the adolescent circadian phase delay. Connects school start times and screen use to sleep outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Sleep Changes in Older Adults

Explains reduced slow-wave sleep, advanced circadian phase, and increased fragmentation in aging. Distinguishes normal aging from pathological sleep disorders.

Lesson 1 • Polysomnography Principles and Setup

Explains the full PSG montage including EEG, EOG, EMG, respiratory, and cardiac channels. Establishes the gold-standard reference for all other measurement methods.

Lesson 2 • Selecting the Right Assessment Tool

Guides decision-making on matching assessment tools to clinical questions, patient populations, and resource constraints. Synthesizes the chapter into a practical framework.

Lesson 3 • Home Sleep Testing and Portable Devices

Covers level 3 and 4 home sleep apnea tests, their indications, limitations, and accuracy. Prepares students to advise on appropriate use of portable diagnostics.

Lesson 4 • Subjective Sleep Questionnaires

Reviews validated instruments for sleepiness, insomnia severity, sleep quality, and chronotype. Teaches proper administration and scoring to ensure reliable clinical data.

Lesson 1 • Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders

Covers delayed and advanced sleep-wake phase disorders, irregular rhythm, non-24-hour disorder, and shift-work disorder. Connects circadian science from Chapter 2 to clinical presentations.

Lesson 2 • Parasomnias: NREM and REM

Describes sleepwalking, sleep terrors, confusional arousals, and REM sleep behavior disorder with their age distributions and safety implications. Links NREM parasomnias to slow-wave sleep abundance.

Lesson 3 • Hypersomnolence Disorders

Distinguishes narcolepsy types 1 and 2, idiopathic hypersomnia, and Kleine-Levin syndrome by mechanism and presentation. Emphasizes the role of orexin deficiency in narcolepsy type 1.

Lesson 4 • Sleep-Disordered Breathing Spectrum

Covers obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and upper airway resistance syndrome with their risk factors and clinical signs. Prepares students for treatment planning in later chapters.

Lesson 5 • Insomnia Disorder: Diagnosis and Subtypes

Defines chronic insomnia disorder, acute insomnia, and comorbid insomnia using current criteria. Distinguishes insomnia from normal sleep variation and other disorders.

Lesson 1 • Relaxation and Mindfulness Techniques

Presents progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, imagery training, and mindfulness-based approaches as arousal-reduction tools. Integrates these into the CBT-I protocol.

Lesson 2 • Digital and Brief CBT-I Delivery

Reviews digital CBT-I platforms, single-session interventions, and group formats as scalable alternatives to individual therapy. Addresses fidelity, engagement, and outcome monitoring.

Lesson 3 • CBT-I Core Components and Rationale

Introduces the six components of CBT-I—sleep restriction, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, sleep hygiene, relaxation, and relapse prevention. Establishes the evidence base and mechanism of action.

Lesson 4 • Cognitive Restructuring for Insomnia

Covers identification and modification of dysfunctional beliefs about sleep using Socratic questioning and behavioral experiments. Targets the hyperarousal and catastrophizing that perpetuate insomnia.

Lesson 1 • Alternative Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Reviews oral appliance therapy, positional therapy, upper airway surgery, and hypoglossal nerve stimulation. Guides selection when PAP therapy is not tolerated or indicated.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacotherapy for Insomnia

Compares benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, dual orexin receptor antagonists, low-dose doxepin, and melatonin agonists by mechanism, efficacy, and safety profile. Positions medication as adjunct to CBT-I.

Lesson 3 • Treating Restless Legs and Movement Disorders

Covers iron supplementation, dopamine agonists, alpha-2-delta ligands, and opioids for RLS and PLMD. Addresses augmentation risk and long-term management strategies.

Lesson 4 • Pharmacotherapy for Hypersomnolence

Reviews wake-promoting agents—modafinil, armodafinil, solriamfetol, pitolisant—and sodium oxybate for narcolepsy. Covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements.

Lesson 1 • Evaluating Sleep Program Outcomes

Teaches selection of outcome measures, data collection design, and interpretation of program effectiveness data. Closes the program cycle with evidence-based quality improvement.

Lesson 2 • Occupational Sleep Health Interventions

Addresses fatigue risk management, shift scheduling, nap policies, and light management in workplace settings. Connects circadian science and CBT-I skills to organizational contexts.

Lesson 3 • Sleep in Chronic Disease Management

Integrates sleep assessment and treatment into care pathways for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and chronic pain. Demonstrates bidirectional relationships between sleep and chronic conditions.

Lesson 4 • Pediatric and School-Based Sleep Programs

Covers school start time advocacy, classroom sleep education, and parent-focused behavioral interventions. Applies lifespan knowledge from Chapter 3 to educational environments.