 |
Nathaniel KleitmanAmerican neurophysiologist, pioneer of the scientific study of sleep
Date of Birth: 26.04.1895
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Nathaniel Kleitman: The Pioneer of Sleep Research
- Founding the Chicago Sleep Laboratory
- Research on Sleep Deprivation and Circadian Rhythms
- Discovery of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep
- Development of Polysomnography
- Retirement and Legacy
Nathaniel Kleitman: The Pioneer of Sleep Research
Early Life and EducationNathaniel Kleitman was born in Chișinău, Bessarabia (now Moldova) in 1895. In 1912, he settled in Palestine and began studying medicine at the Syrian Protestant College (now American University) in Beirut. However, the outbreak of World War I led to his internment as a citizen of an enemy state.
In 1915, he immigrated to the United States, becoming a citizen in 1918. He earned a bachelor's degree in physiology and psychology from the City College of New York in 1919, a master's from Columbia University in 1920, and a Ph.D. summa cum laude from the University of Chicago in 1923.
Founding the Chicago Sleep Laboratory
From 1925 to 1960, Kleitman worked at the University of Chicago, where he established the world's first sleep laboratory and chaired the department of physiology. In 1939, he published the first textbook on the neurophysiology of sleep: "Sleep and Wakefulness."
Research on Sleep Deprivation and Circadian Rhythms
In the 1920s, Kleitman investigated sleep deprivation, debunking the prevailing theory that a "hypnotoxin" accumulated during insufficient sleep. To study the impact of the environment on circadian rhythms, he spent 32 days in total isolation in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, in 1938. He also conducted sleep-wake cycle studies on the submarine "Dogfish" in 1948.
Discovery of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep
In 1952, Kleitman and his graduate student Eugene Aserinsky described the REM phase of sleep for the first time. They observed that REM sleep occurred with increased brain activity and rapid eye movements, indicating a link with dreaming.
Development of Polysomnography
After the discovery of REM sleep, Kleitman and another graduate student, William Dement, focused on developing polysomnographic analysis of nocturnal sleep. This involved monitoring electroencephalographic (EEG) and other activity throughout the night. Their work led to the detailed description of sleep stages and the establishment of sleep laboratories, the first of which was founded by Dement at Stanford University.
Retirement and Legacy
Kleitman retired in 1960 and moved to California, but continued his theoretical work. He proposed the existence of a diurnal "basic rest-activity cycle" (BRAC) that persists during both sleep and wakefulness. This concept became the focus of his lifelong research.
Nathaniel Kleitman, known as the "Father of Sleep Research," made groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of sleep and its importance for human health and well-being. His work laid the foundation for the scientific study of sleep and the development of sleep medicine.
