SLEEP MICROARCHITECTURE AS AN INTEGRATIVE NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL BIOMARKER IN CHRONIC DISEASE: FROM NEURAL OSCILLATIONS TO CLINICAL TRANSLATION
Keywords:
Sleep microarchitecture, neural oscillations, thalamocortical networks, CAP, sleep spindles, slow-wave activity, EEG biomarkers, synaptic plasticity, chronic disease, precision medicineAbstract
Sleep microarchitecture is an advanced field of neurophysiology that investigates fine-scale electrophysiological dynamics underlying sleep regulation. Unlike macrostructural sleep staging, microarchitecture reflects the temporal organization of neural oscillations generated by thalamocortical, limbic, and brainstem networks. This review integrates theoretical neurophysiological mechanisms with clinical evidence, focusing on cyclic alternating pattern (CAP), sleep spindles, K-complexes, and slow-wave activity (SWA) as biomarkers of chronic disease. Emerging evidence suggests that disruption of sleep microarchitecture reflects early dysfunction in cortical excitability, synaptic plasticity, and autonomic regulation. We further discuss translational applications in cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders, highlighting the role of machine learning and multimodal biosignal integration. The implementation of microstructural sleep analysis may represent a cornerstone of future precision medicine.
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