Question

How is the hypothalamus involved in sleep?
A) Cell clusters in the hypothalamus stimulate the production of relatively slow alpha waves, signaling the transition from deep relaxation to sleep.
B) The hypothalamus triggers the pituitary gland in the endocrine system to produce the hormone thyroxin, which leads you to sleep.
C) During sleep the hypothalamus stimulates the production of free radicals, molecules that are toxic to neurons, which weakens unused connections.
D) In response to decreasing light the hypothalamus' suprachiastmatic nucleus causes the pineal gland to increase productio

Answer 1

Hmm....the hypothalamus is the major part of the brain that controls sleep and alertness, monoaminergic neurons in the brain stem send neurotransmitters to the cerebral cortex resulting in arousal of this most active part of the brain

When this happens, we experience alertness as a result of rapid neuronal discharge in these areas.

Whereas, when there is a decrease in the discharge caused by production of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA(Gamma amino butyric acid), from the preoptic part of the hypothalamus(MnPN and VLPN) these inhibit the amount of arousal signals been sent to the cerebral cortex hence drowsiness sets in, then sleep. The mist likely answer seems to be A. if the alpha waves mentioned are inhibitors of arousal activity in the cortex.