ByOnlinecourses55
The sleep cycles - quality life
In this guide, we will explore a topic that is crucial to understanding sleep and the complex brain processes involved. We often talk about the importance of sleep and the benefits it brings to our health, but we are unaware of the bases that support this phenomenon. Commonly, it is incorrectly assumed that sleep is a unitary state, when in fact it is divided into cycles and stages, each with its own characteristics.
Sleep is classified into two main phases: rapid eye movement [REM] sleep and non-rapid eye movement [non-REM] sleep. Research based on sensor measurements has shown that sleep follows cycles that repeat every 1 hour and 20 minutes to approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, in which several stages occur, each with its own particularities.
In the following, we will analyze the fundamental aspects of this process, so that you can better understand the phases of sleep and their development throughout the night.
REM sleep is characterized by a marked presence of rapid eye movements, and usually occurs during the late night phase. One of the highlights of this stage is the high brain activity that is recorded, similar to the levels observed during wakefulness.
It is during this phase that we experience the phenomenon of dreaming, in which we create stories or narrative sequences. At the same time, muscles reach a state of deep relaxation, and body temperature regulation may be affected, making it difficult to maintain a stable temperature.
Non-MOR sleep, on the other hand, is the phase of sleep where no rapid eye movements are observed. This phase is subdivided into three stages, each with its own characteristics.
The first stage is the transition period between wakefulness and sleep, where we are not yet completely asleep, but are entering the resting state. In the second stage, the individual is already asleep, but in a superficial way, which means that sleep has not yet reached its maximum depth, where the greatest restorative benefits are obtained.
The third stage is deep sleep, where slow brain waves are observed. This is the stage to which the main restorative properties of sleep are attributed, being key to physical and mental regeneration.
A relevant aspect in the study of sleep is the changes in the cycles as we age. REM sleep is predominant in younger people. However, as we move into adolescence and adulthood, it becomes more difficult to experience deep or slow-wave sleep, and in some older people, this phase may disappear altogether.
Much research remains to be done on this complex process. What little we know comes from studies using sensors that measure brain activity during sleep. As science advances, we will continue to discover more about this fascinating activity.
If you are interested in nutrition courses on offer, click here.
