Sleep is a state of consciousness because when we are asleep, our brain remains active and working. With the invention of the electroencephalogram (EEG) researchers are better able to understand the brain activity of individuals as they prepare to sleep and after they fall asleep. When a person is awake and alert high frequency beta waves are seen in an EEG. When you are laying down, relaxed and become sleepy, low frequency alpha waves would be seen in an EEG. The different types of brain waves seen in EEG’s are important in determining the stages of sleep (Licht, Hull, M, & Ballantyne, C, 2014). Sleep begins with Non-Rem (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. This is also known as a non-dreaming sleep. There are four (4) sleep stages during non-rem sleep. During the first
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151). A person’s body temperature will begin to lower, muscles will become more relaxed and they may experience hallucinations. An EEG would show theta waves during this stage. During the 2nd stage of sleep theta waves continue but the EEG shows additional “bursts of electrical activity called sleep spindles and large waves call K-complexes appearing every 2 minutes or so” (Licht, Hull, Ballantyne, 2014, p. 152). Stage 2 is a deeper sleep than stage 1 and a person spends more time in this stage than any other during the night. Stages 3 and 4 are very similar. They are both considered deep stages of sleep but stage 4 is a deeper sleep and it is difficult to wake someone up during this stage and if you do, the person may appear irritated and confused. Stage 4 lasts for approximately 40 minutes. Brain waves for these two cycles are known as delta waves. In a study conducted at The University of Florida research showed that people who showed signs
151). A person’s body temperature will begin to lower, muscles will become more relaxed and they may experience hallucinations. An EEG would show theta waves during this stage. During the 2nd stage of sleep theta waves continue but the EEG shows additional “bursts of electrical activity called sleep spindles and large waves call K-complexes appearing every 2 minutes or so” (Licht, Hull, Ballantyne, 2014, p. 152). Stage 2 is a deeper sleep than stage 1 and a person spends more time in this stage than any other during the night. Stages 3 and 4 are very similar. They are both considered deep stages of sleep but stage 4 is a deeper sleep and it is difficult to wake someone up during this stage and if you do, the person may appear irritated and confused. Stage 4 lasts for approximately 40 minutes. Brain waves for these two cycles are known as delta waves. In a study conducted at The University of Florida research showed that people who showed signs