A 42-year-old female executive is referred to the sleep clinic with jaw pain. She complains that after she arrives home at night around 10 pm she frequently drinks 3-4 gin and tonics to help “quiet her mind.” She wakes up the next morning around 3am to read the international stock market news, at which point she states her teeth ache an unbearable amount. A study is performed on the patient and it is noted that she grinds her teeth and mutters during roughly half of her sleep.
Which of the following would you expect to see on her EEG and at which stage of sleep would you expect her jaw pain to be caused?
A 42-year-old female executive is referred to the sleep clinic with jaw pain. She complains that after she arrives home at night around 10 pm she frequently drinks 3-4 gin and tonics to help “quiet her mind.” She wakes up the next morning around 3am to read the international stock market news, at which point she states her teeth ache an unbearable amount. A study is performed on the patient and it is noted that she grinds her teeth and mutters during roughly half of her sleep.
Which of the following would you expect to see on her EEG and at which stage of sleep would you expect her jaw pain to be caused?
💡 Explanation
**Core Concept**
The patient's symptoms are indicative of sleep bruxism, a sleep disorder characterized by involuntary teeth grinding and clenching during sleep. This condition is often associated with stress, anxiety, and other psychological factors.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
During sleep, the patient's jaw pain is caused by the activation of the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for facial sensations, including pain. The brain's attempt to suppress this pain leads to the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which can cause an increase in the activity of the brain's motor centers. This results in the characteristic grinding and clenching of the teeth. The patient's symptoms are most consistent with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, during which the brain's motor centers are most active and the patient is most likely to experience vivid dreams and increased muscle tone.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option does not specify the stage of sleep or the type of sleep disorder. While it may be related to sleep bruxism, it is too vague to be a correct answer.
**Option B:** This option does not specify the stage of sleep, but rather a more general type of sleep disorder. It does not accurately describe the patient's symptoms.
**Option C:** This option does not specify the stage of sleep or the type of sleep disorder. It may be related to the patient's symptoms, but it is too vague to be a correct answer.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Sleep bruxism is often associated with stress, anxiety, and other psychological factors. Treatment may involve stress management techniques, such as relaxation therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy, in addition to any necessary dental or orthodontic treatment.
**Correct Answer: B. REM sleep, during which the brain's motor centers are most active and the patient is most likely to experience vivid dreams and increased muscle tone.**
✓ Correct Answer: D. Sleep spindles, N2
📤 Share this MCQ
Share Card Preview
👆 1080x1080 square card — fills the full width in WhatsApp and Telegram