Stages of sleep

Brain Waves
Sleep Stage Common Characteristics
Frequency Type

• transition state between sleep and wakefulness

• eyes begin to roll slightly
1
alpha,
• consists mostly of theta waves (high amplitude, low
(SWS or 4 to 8 frequency (slow))
theta
NREM) • brief periods of alpha waves, similar to those present
while awake

• lasts only for a few minutes before moving on to next

stage

theta, • peaks of brain waves become higher and higher (sleep

2 spindles)
spindles,
(SWS or 8 to 15
NREM)
k- • k-complexes (peaks suddenly drastically descend and
complexes then pick back up) follow spindles

• again, only lasts for a few minutes

• also called delta sleep or deep sleep

3
(SWS or 2 to 4
delta, • very slow brain waves, called delta waves (lower
theta frequency than theta waves)
NREM)

• 20 to 50% of brain waves are delta waves; the rest are

theta waves

• again, also called delta sleep or deep sleep

4
(SWS or 0.5 to 2
delta, • more than 50% of brain waves are delta waves; the rest
theta are theta waves
NREM)

• last (and deepest) of the sleep stages before REM

sleep; stages reverse and then REM sleep begins

• beta waves have a high frequency and occur when the

brain is quite active, both in REM sleep and while
awake
5 • frequent bursts of rapid eye movement, along with
> 12 beta
(REM)
occasional muscular twitches
• heart may beat faster and breathing may become
shallow and rapid

• most vivid dreaming occurs during this stage

Mohammed Younes Shaheen