Understanding the Dynamics of the Two Process Model for Sleep-Wake Regulation by Eddie Loyd '25

Abstract: Sleep is a necessary activity for people every day.  The body has natural processes that cause the body to stay awake and fall asleep, but many of the body’s processes also require an internal clock to perform efficiently. What happens when we disrupt our sleeping patterns? The two-process model for sleep-wake regulation is a simple, old, but effective way to model the body’s circadian rhythm, a build-up of sleep pressure during the day and a dissipation at night. I will introduce this model and then a mapping of the model, which will introduce a framework in which we can study the dynamics more rigorously. I will discuss the emergence of gaps, bifurcations, and border collisions and how these properties are relevant to the model itself.