Deep sleep is generated from the frontal lobe and displays the brain at its most coordinated.Deep sleep occurs after shallow sleep (Stages 1 and 2) within a 90-minute sleep cycle.Slow delta brain waves oscillate at about two to four waves per second and make up less than 25 percent of our nightly slumber.I like to think of it as when our sleep sleeps. Deep sleep is one type, the deepest type of non-REM sleep.It goes by many names, including delta wave sleep (its predominant brain wave), Stage 3-4, Stage 3 or Stage 4 Sleep. After changing sleep patterns on the weekend, we may find it difficult to get to sleep on Sunday night, and as a result, you may wake up feeling groggy on Monday.REM and deep have important differences. We disrupt these normal patterns by shift work and, to a lesser extent, when we stay up late and sleep in on the weekends. During the day, the circadian rhythm’s alerting signal counters the homeostatic drive for sleep, which is why we generally can remain awake. The pressure decreases during sleep, reaching a low after a full night of good-quality sleep. Then, even before we wake up, the circadian system switches on its alerting system and our body temperature rises as the body prepares for the day.Ī second system that governs sleep is the homeostatic drive - pressure for sleep that builds up in the body the longer you remain awake. Typically, the system produces the least alerting signal around 4:30 a.m. Hours before bedtime, the circadian system starts to turn off its alerting (“wake”) signal in preparation for sleep. The SCN receives information from the brain cells about light and darkness and sends signals to other parts of the brain that control hormones, body temperature, and other body functions that influence whether we feel sleepy or wide awake. The biological clock switch (also called the “master clock”) is called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and it’s located in the area of the brain called the hypothalamus. The biological clock can be reset by exposure to light (daylight or artificial), melatonin, or by vigorous activity. Some of this wiring difference may be innate, and some of it may be programmed. For example, we all know people (often dubbed “larks”) who function better and are bursting with energy in the morning, and others (“owls”) who work more efficiently far into the evening. Not everyone’s biological clock is wired the same way. It’s made up of specific molecules that interact with cells throughout the body. The biological clock is a natural timing device that regulates our circadian rhythms. In fact, sleeping at night and waking during the day is an example of a light-related circadian rhythm, often referred to as the “sleep/wake cycle.” The sleep/wake cycle can affect eating habits, digestion, body temperature, release of hormones, and other vital functions. These processes affect most living things, and respond mainly to light and dark. Circadian Rhythms and the Biological ClockĬircadian rhythms are the physical, mental and behavioral changes in the body that follow a 24-hour cycle. A full sleep cycle generally takes about 90 to 110 minutes then, the cycle repeats throughout the night. REM stages make up about 25% of sleep in adults, with each stage getting longer and longer the first stage may last a few minutes, while later stages may last for up to an hour.Įach stage of sleep has a characteristic pattern of brain waves that can be seen on a machine called an electroencephalograph (EEG). Generally, a person enters a REM sleep stage after they’ve been asleep for about 90 minutes. – Stage 4/REM: REM sleep is thought to be essential for cognitive functions such as memory, learning and creativity. Deep sleep typically occurs in the first half of the night, and lasts for 20-40 minutes in each sleep stage cycle. Some experts believe this stage is critical for restorative sleep. – Stage 3/N3: This is deep sleep, during which the body relaxes even more. These are believed to help stabilize memory. Brain activity generally slows as well, although there are short bursts of activity, called sleep spindles. – Stage 2/N2: This is when the body enters a more relaxed state temperature drops and breathing and heart rate slow. The body hasn’t fully relaxed yet, and it’s easy to wake up during this time. – Stage 1/N1: This is the “dozing off” period, which typically lasts one to five minutes. NREM sleep consists of several stages, labeled N1 through N3, indicating the depth of sleep. The two main components of normal sleep are REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when the most vivid dreaming occurs, and non-REM sleep (NREM). Sleep is a complex process that occurs in stages, and we cycle in and out of these stages during the night.
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