There are five stages of
sleep and each distinct stage serves a different purpose. An individuals cycles
through all five stages several times (on average 4 to 6 times) each night, not
always in the same order. The following is a description of the sleep stages
and what happens during each:
sleep and each distinct stage serves a different purpose. An individuals cycles
through all five stages several times (on average 4 to 6 times) each night, not
always in the same order. The following is a description of the sleep stages
and what happens during each:
Stage 1
This is the lightest stage
of sleep, the transition phase, where you feel yourself drifting off. If you
were to forget about the alarm clock and allow yourself to wake up naturally,
Stage 1 sleep would be the last stage before you fully wake up. You don’t spend
too much time in Stage 1 sleep, typically five to 10 minutes, just enough to
allow your body to slow down and your muscles to relax.
of sleep, the transition phase, where you feel yourself drifting off. If you
were to forget about the alarm clock and allow yourself to wake up naturally,
Stage 1 sleep would be the last stage before you fully wake up. You don’t spend
too much time in Stage 1 sleep, typically five to 10 minutes, just enough to
allow your body to slow down and your muscles to relax.
Stage 2
The second stage of sleep
is still considered light sleep. Your brain activity starts to slow down, as
well as your heart rate and breathing. Your body temperature falls a little and
you are beginning to reach a state of total relaxation in preparation for the
deeper sleep to come.
is still considered light sleep. Your brain activity starts to slow down, as
well as your heart rate and breathing. Your body temperature falls a little and
you are beginning to reach a state of total relaxation in preparation for the
deeper sleep to come.
Stage 3
Stage 3 sleep is the start
of deep sleep, also known as slow
wave sleep. During stage 3, your brain waves are slow “delta
waves,” although there may still be short bursts of faster of brain
activity (also known as beta-waves). If you were to get awakened suddenly
during this stage, you would be groggy and confused, and find it difficult to
focus at first.
of deep sleep, also known as slow
wave sleep. During stage 3, your brain waves are slow “delta
waves,” although there may still be short bursts of faster of brain
activity (also known as beta-waves). If you were to get awakened suddenly
during this stage, you would be groggy and confused, and find it difficult to
focus at first.
Stage 4
Of the five stages of
sleep, this is the one when you experience your deepest sleep of the night.
Your brain only shows delta-wave (slow wave) activity, and it’s difficult to wake
someone up when they’re in Stage 4 of sleep. It’s during Stage 4 sleep that
children are most likely to suffer from bedwetting or sleep
terrors. Stages 3 and 4 can last anywhere from 5 – 15 minutes each, but the
first deep sleep of the night is more likely to be an hour or so. This is the
time when the body does most of it’s repair work and regeneration.
sleep, this is the one when you experience your deepest sleep of the night.
Your brain only shows delta-wave (slow wave) activity, and it’s difficult to wake
someone up when they’re in Stage 4 of sleep. It’s during Stage 4 sleep that
children are most likely to suffer from bedwetting or sleep
terrors. Stages 3 and 4 can last anywhere from 5 – 15 minutes each, but the
first deep sleep of the night is more likely to be an hour or so. This is the
time when the body does most of it’s repair work and regeneration.
Stage 5
This is the stage of sleep
when you dream. It is also referred to as “active sleep” or REM
sleep, which stands for the rapid eye movements that characterize Stage 5.
During REM sleep, your blood flow, breathing, and brain activity increases. An
EEG would show that your brain is about as active as it is when you’re awake.
when you dream. It is also referred to as “active sleep” or REM
sleep, which stands for the rapid eye movements that characterize Stage 5.
During REM sleep, your blood flow, breathing, and brain activity increases. An
EEG would show that your brain is about as active as it is when you’re awake.
Another
aspect of Stage 5 sleep is that the muscles in your arms and legs will go
through periods of paralysis. Scientists speculate that this may be nature’s
way of protecting us from acting out our dreams.
aspect of Stage 5 sleep is that the muscles in your arms and legs will go
through periods of paralysis. Scientists speculate that this may be nature’s
way of protecting us from acting out our dreams.
The first period of REM sleep of the night usually
begins about 90 minutes after you start drifting off, and lasts for about 10
minutes. As the night passes, the periods of REM sleep become longer, with the
final episode lasting an hour or so.
begins about 90 minutes after you start drifting off, and lasts for about 10
minutes. As the night passes, the periods of REM sleep become longer, with the
final episode lasting an hour or so.
Babies may spend as much as
half of the time they’re asleep in the REM phase. For a healthy adult, Stage 5
occurs for about 20 to 25% of the time you are sleeping, and decreases with
age.
half of the time they’re asleep in the REM phase. For a healthy adult, Stage 5
occurs for about 20 to 25% of the time you are sleeping, and decreases with
age.
