Alertness
Group 1: Importance of Alertness – Retaining constant alertness is rare during monotonous tasks – Lapses in alertness in safety-related jobs can lead to severe […]
Group 1: Importance of Alertness
– Retaining constant alertness is rare during monotonous tasks
– Lapses in alertness in safety-related jobs can lead to severe consequences
– Alertness crucial in occupations like air traffic control and nuclear power plant monitoring
– Research supports the difficulty of maintaining constant alertness
– Factors beyond sleep, diet, and exercise can impact alertness
Group 2: Neurobiological Pathways of Alertness
– Neurotransmitters promoting wakefulness include serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine
– Neuromodulators like orexin enhance alertness
– Inhibition of sleepiness mechanisms can increase wakefulness
– Multiple neurotransmitters work together for wakefulness sensation
– Ongoing research to map wakefulness circuitry
Group 3: Methods to Increase Alertness
– Drugs used to increase alertness: caffeine, rhodiola rosea, bromantane, amphetamines, modafinil
– Other approaches for increasing alertness: odors, music, extrinsic motivation, rest periods, lighting adjustments, neurostimulation, microbiome interventions
– Various interventions being explored to enhance alertness
Group 4: Factors Affecting Alertness
– Non-genetic determinants of alertness include sleep quality and physical activity
– Breakfast composition and blood glucose levels affect alertness
– Quality of sleep, positive emotional state, natural light exposure, and circadian rhythm impact daily alertness
– Caffeine consumption and its effects on cognitive function
– Rhodiola plants and their influence on cognitive function
Group 5: Cognitive Enhancement and Health
– Medical students using stimulants for cognitive enhancement
– Theacrine from Camellia kucha for cognitive function
– Berberine effects on blood glucose levels and metabolic health
– Impact of stimulants on cognitive performance and academic outcomes
– Studies on the potential benefits of theacrine and berberine on health and cognitive function
Alertness is a state of active attention characterized by high sensory awareness. Someone who is alert is vigilant and promptly meets danger or emergency, or is quick to perceive and act. Alertness is a psychological and physiological state.
Lack of alertness is a symptom of a number of conditions, including narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, Addison's disease, and sleep deprivation. Pronounced lack of alertness is an altered level of consciousness. States with low levels of alertness include drowsiness.
The word is formed from "alert", which comes from the Italian all'erta (on the watch, literally: on the height; 1618).[citation needed]
Wakefulness refers mainly to differences between the sleep and waking states; vigilance refers to sustained alertness and concentration. Both terms are sometimes used synonymously with alertness.