This stage usually lasts for 1–5 minutes in a cycle (Patel, 2021). You still have muscle tone, and your breathing occurs at a regular rate. Here, your brain’s alpha waves change to low-amplitude mixed-frequency (LAMF) activity. Your body then moves into the lightest stage of sleep, called N1. This causes you to fall asleep (Patel, 2021). As you become drowsy and close your eyes, your brain activity changes from both alpha and beta waves to mostly alpha waves. The first stage of sleep begins when you are still awake. You will move through these stages several times during a night’s sleep (Institute of Medicine, 2006). Here are the five stages in a typical sleep cycle. The sleep cycle is divided into non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), which includes the first four stages of sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep (REM). A review of multiple studies using sound, electricity, and medications to increase deep sleep time in humans found that several of these methods improved cognitive abilities (Zhang, 2019). Researchers have looked at ways of enhancing slow-wave sleep to improve cognitive abilities. During this stage, a recording of your brain’s activity would show increased high-voltage, slow-wave activity, called delta waves (Institute of Medicine, 2006). Like all the stages of sleep, your brain and circadian rhythm (your body’s 24-hour sleep-wake cycle) control deep sleep ( Institute of Medicine, 2006).īelieve it or not, most deep sleep happens in the first third of the night. Learn moreĭeep sleep, also called slow-wave sleep (SWS), is the fourth stage of the sleep cycle. Ro Mind offers access to customized treatment plans and check‑ins with a U.S.-licensed healthcare provider to support your mental health. Here is what we know about deep sleep, the health risks of not getting enough, and how you can help yourself get a better night’s sleep overall. It also plays a vital role in the formation of memories ( Zhang, 2019). Deep sleep is the stage where the body repairs its tissues, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens the immune system ( Patel, 2021). However, other stages of sleep also deserve some recognition. After all, REM sleep is the stage where we experience dreams, so it’s pretty interesting for researchers and non-researchers alike.
However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Įver since researchers discovered that there were multiple stages of sleep, one of those stages has stolen most of the attention: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. For the Mayo Clinic News Network, I'm Vivien Williams.If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. Vivien Williams: He also suggests keeping your bedroom as dark and quiet as possible. It's not for spreadsheets, it's not for watching TV. The bedroom, the bed is for sex and sleep. Somers: We've got bright lights all over the place, and then we switch the lights off, we lie in bed and expect to sleep. Somers offers the following tips: Avoid alcohol and big meals before bed don't exercise right before bed and turn off all screens, including your smartphone, an hour before bed.ĭr. Vivien Williams: Poor sleep may increase your risk of conditions such as heart disease, obesity, depression, dementia. Somers: Sleep is very much a multidisciplinary specialty for good reason because sleep affects all the organs of the body. Virend Somers is a cardiologist who studies sleep.ĭr. Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D.: When you don't sleep well, bad things happen.