What is the primary neurotransmitter affected by increased metabolism during wakefulness in insomnia?

During wakefulness, particularly in the context of insomnia, there is an increased metabolic demand associated with heightened neural activity, which prominently affects catecholamines. Catecholamines, such as norepinephrine and epinephrine, play a critical role in the body's response to stress and arousal.

When a person is awake, especially in states of anxiety or insomnia, there is typically an increase in the release of catecholamines. This, in turn, influences various physiological responses, including increased heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness. Elevated catecholamine levels are closely tied to the body's sympathetic nervous system activation, contributing to the feeling of heightened alertness that some individuals experience during insomnia.

While dopamine and serotonin are important neurotransmitters that affect mood and sleep regulation, their metabolic activity does not directly correspond to the immediate metabolic changes seen during periods of wakefulness in insomnia as strongly as that of catecholamines. Therefore, recognizing that catecholamines are crucial players in the body's response to wakefulness helps clarify their role in the context of insomnia.