Understanding Non-REM and REM Sleep Stages

Sleep Studies Identify Different Patterns Based on Brain Waves on EEG

The function of normal sleep and how various sleep disorders occur, it is necessary to understand the basics of sleep stages. For example, what is the difference between non-REM and REM sleep?

What stage of sleep is the deepest? When is the body restored or memory processed? When do vivid dreams occur? Discover the answers to these common questions.

The various sleep stages are distinctive, and they can be identified through the use of a limited EEG.

The EEG, which is performed during a standard sleep study (polysomnogram), is a measurement of the brain’s continuous brain wave patterns or electrical activity. This is done by placing electrodes on the scalp with a conducting paste that helps detect electrical patterns.

The recorded activity can be categorized into two basic stages – non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

An electrooculogram, or EOG, measures the electrical activity associated with eye movements during sleep. It can monitor eyeball movement during both REM and non-REM sleep.

What Is NREM Sleep?

Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, or Non-REM sleep, consists of three stages (N1, N2, and N3), each having recognizable electrical brain wave patterns. NREM makes up the largest portion of the sleep cycle.

NREM is characterized by decreased blood flow to the brain and skeletal muscle.

There is also decreased heart rate, blood pressure, and air volume moving in and out of the lungs.

Stage 1 (N1) involves slow rolling eye movements and partial relaxation of voluntary muscles. It is a very light stage of sleep and is often misinterpreted as wakefulness by the person asleep.

Stage 2 (N2) shows characteristic patterns on the EEG, including K complexes and sleep spindles. The K complex is a high-amplitude wave, meaning that it is tall and wide. Sleep spindles are closely spaced high-frequency waves, meaning they are not as tall and occur quickly over a short period. These are recognized in sleep studies by trained individuals and are used to identify sleep stages. Stage 2 makes up about 50 percent of our sleep on average.

Stage 3 (N3) shows high amplitude activity consisting of tall and wide waves on EEG and is recognized as the deepest of the three NREM stages of sleep. This is the stage in which growth hormone is released, especially in children. It is very hard to wake the person and usually occurs in the first one-third of the night. It is important for the restoration of the body’s tissues.

What Is REM Sleep?

Rapid eye movement (REM) occurs several times during sleep, but it comprises the smallest portion of your sleep cycle. It is notable for the presence of rapid eye movements (REM), which is the fast movement of your eyes in different directions while you are asleep. This is a stage of sleep with intense activity in certain parts of the brain.

The EEG recordings, more patterned in earlier stages, become desynchronized during REM and appear a lot like wakefulness.

This is the stage of sleep when vivid dreaming occurs, like a movie going through your mind. It is important for memory processing and learning.

Except for your eye muscles and diaphragm, you have no motor function during REM. This loss of muscle tone during REM sleep may conserve energy and protect you from acting out your dreams. It also may worsen the risk of sleep apnea in susceptible individuals.

In addition, REM leads to changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate.

Blood flow is increased to the brain and penis, and clitoris, resulting in engorgement. This is the cause of morning erections in men.

Dividing Sleep into Patterns Using a Hypnogram

Sleep architecture represents the structure of your sleep and is generally composed of a cyclical pattern of the various NREM and REM sleep stages.

There are four to six cycles of NREM sleep per night, followed by brief intervals of REM sleep. Each cycle lasts about 90 minutes. As the night progresses, the periods of NREM become shorter, and the periods of REM become longer. Most REM sleep occurs in the last third of the night, towards morning. The average adult will spend about 20 to 25 percent of the night in REM sleep, but this may decrease as we age.

Source:

Mowzoon, N et al. “Neurology of Sleep Disorders.” Neurology Board Review: An Illustrated Guide. 2007;720-722.