Sleep is a physical and mental resting state in which a person becomes relatively inactive and unaware of the environment.
In essence, sleep is a partial detachment from the world, where most external stimuli are blocked from the senses. Normal sleep is characterized by a general decrease in body temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate, and most other bodily functions. In contrast, the human brain never decreases inactivity. Studies have shown that the brain is as active during sleep as it is when awake. Throughout an eight-hour sleep cycle, a normal adult alternates between two very different states, non-REM and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.
What is the Sleep Cycle?
Sleep is characterized by two distinct states, non-REM sleep and REM sleep. Non-REM and REM sleep alternate in 90- to 110-minute cycles. A normal sleep pattern has 4-5 cycles. This explains why the cycles of sleep have been compared to going up and down a stairway.
Sleep Cycle
The five-step sleep cycle repeats itself throughout a night of sleeping, much like a roller coaster. As a person drifts off, Stage 1 begins. After a few minutes, the EEG detects sleep. It may take anywhere from 30 – 40 minutes to cycle through Stage 2 through 4. Now, an individual backtracks through Stage 3, then Stage 2, and finally into REM sleep. This occurs 4 - 5 times per night.
Related Articles to the term 'Sleep' | |
| 'Collagen' | ■■■■■■■■■■ |
| Collagen is a protein that is primarily found in the skin, bones, and connective tissues of the body. . . . Read More | |
| 'Inequality' | ■■■■■■■■■ |
| Inequality, in the context of psychology, refers to the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, . . . Read More | |
| 'Social support' | ■■■■■■■■ |
| Social support is the aid and succor provided by members of one\'s social networks. . . . . . . Read More | |
| 'Hemoglobin' | ■■■■ |
| Hemoglobin refers to a heme which contains protein in red blood cells that is responsible for transporting . . . Read More | |
| 'Tumescence' | ■■■ |
| Tumescence in the psychology context refers to the physiological process of swelling, particularly the . . . Read More | |
| 'Mystery' | ■■■ |
| Mystery, in the context of psychology, refers to the experience of uncertainty or the unknown. It is . . . Read More | |
| 'Sternberg\'s Triarchic Theory' | ■■■ |
| Sternberg\'s Triarchic Theory refers to Robert J Sternberg\'s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence consisting . . . Read More | |
| 'Field study' | ■■■ |
| Field study: Field Study in the psychology context refers to research conducted outside of a laboratory . . . Read More | |
| 'Wakefulness' | ■■ |
| Wakefulness in the Psychology Context: Understanding, Examples, Recommendations, and Similar Concepts . . . Read More | |
| 'Sensing' | ■■ |
| Sensing in the psychology context refers to the process by which individuals detect and respond to external . . . Read More | |