RESEARCH
DIARY_
05
About brainwave stages
Within the different sleep stages,
our brain produces brainwaves,which result from synchronized
electrical activity generated by small electrical currents . These
brainwaves are used to represent the level of activity the brain is
going through.
Before our body enters any of the sleep stages, our brain experiences the gamma brainwaves. This stage has a frequency of 32-100 Hz and is the fastest measurable Electroencephalography (EEG) brainwaves. This stage is associated with heightened perception, such as problem-solving or memorization. Next, our brain experiences beta brainwave, with a frequency of 13-32 Hz. This brainwave level typically occurs before our body enters any of the sleep stages and is associated with active cognitive processes, such as decision-making or learning new concepts.
When we sleep, our brainwaves shift from relaxed and wakeful alpha waves (8-13 Hz) to slower and restful theta waves (4-7 Hz), as we enter N1 sleep. In N2 sleep, theta waves are dominant but are interspersed with brief bursts of electrical activity known as sleep spindles and K-complexes. The deepest sleep state, N3, is characterized by delta waves (0.5-4 Hz) which are high-amplitude and low-frequency. In contrast, REM sleep exhibits brainwaves that are opposite to those of deep sleep –low amplitude and high frequency–which is similar to the brain’s activity in an awakened state and associated with dreaming
Before our body enters any of the sleep stages, our brain experiences the gamma brainwaves. This stage has a frequency of 32-100 Hz and is the fastest measurable Electroencephalography (EEG) brainwaves. This stage is associated with heightened perception, such as problem-solving or memorization. Next, our brain experiences beta brainwave, with a frequency of 13-32 Hz. This brainwave level typically occurs before our body enters any of the sleep stages and is associated with active cognitive processes, such as decision-making or learning new concepts.
When we sleep, our brainwaves shift from relaxed and wakeful alpha waves (8-13 Hz) to slower and restful theta waves (4-7 Hz), as we enter N1 sleep. In N2 sleep, theta waves are dominant but are interspersed with brief bursts of electrical activity known as sleep spindles and K-complexes. The deepest sleep state, N3, is characterized by delta waves (0.5-4 Hz) which are high-amplitude and low-frequency. In contrast, REM sleep exhibits brainwaves that are opposite to those of deep sleep –low amplitude and high frequency–which is similar to the brain’s activity in an awakened state and associated with dreaming
Factored with these 4 sleep stages, a sleep cycle is created that is
repeated throughout an individual’s sleep. The first sleep cycle lasts
about 70 to 100 minutes, and the latter lasts about 90 to 120 minutes.
While REM sleep, also gotten through the last stage, plays a
significant part in the brain, non-REM sleep, which relates to the
other 3 different stages of sleep, supports physical recovery and
immune function. A balanced mix of REM sleep and non-REM sleep is
crucial for an individual’s well-being.
In the early part of sleep, deep sleep stage lasts longer, sometimes up to an hour while the REM sleep only occurs for a few minutes. As the sleep processes, deep sleep stages last shorter and REM sleep lasts longer, with the final cycle of sleep commonly having up to an hour of REM sleep. In conclusion, most deep sleep occurs in the first half of the night, while lighter sleep cirrus in the second half of the sleep. This causes one to wake up more commonly in the later part of the night. Averagely, you wake briefly during the transition between sleep stages, commonly more than six times a night, but individuals usually fall back asleep within a second and don’t remember about it.
In the early part of sleep, deep sleep stage lasts longer, sometimes up to an hour while the REM sleep only occurs for a few minutes. As the sleep processes, deep sleep stages last shorter and REM sleep lasts longer, with the final cycle of sleep commonly having up to an hour of REM sleep. In conclusion, most deep sleep occurs in the first half of the night, while lighter sleep cirrus in the second half of the sleep. This causes one to wake up more commonly in the later part of the night. Averagely, you wake briefly during the transition between sleep stages, commonly more than six times a night, but individuals usually fall back asleep within a second and don’t remember about it.
Citations
* Muse. "A Deep Dive into Brainwaves: Brainwave Frequencies Explained." Muse,
www.choosemuse.com/blogs/news/a-deep-dive-into-brainwaves-brainwave-frequencies-explained-2.
* Michigan State University. (n.d.). Sleep and EEG. Open Books, MSU.
https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/introneuroscience1/chapter/sleep-and-eeg/
* Neurolaunch. (n.d.). Sleep EEG: Unraveling brain activity during rest. Neurolaunch.
https://neurolaunch.com/sleep-eeg/
* Muse. "A Deep Dive into Brainwaves: Brainwave Frequencies Explained." Muse,
www.choosemuse.com/blogs/news/a-deep-dive-into-brainwaves-brainwave-frequencies-explained-2.
* Michigan State University. (n.d.). Sleep and EEG. Open Books, MSU.
https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/introneuroscience1/chapter/sleep-and-eeg/
* Neurolaunch. (n.d.). Sleep EEG: Unraveling brain activity during rest. Neurolaunch.
https://neurolaunch.com/sleep-eeg/
