SLEEP STAGES

Stage

Description

EEG Waves

Drowsy
Initial 90 minutes of sleep.

Alpha waves: highly synchronized waves of increased amplitude and

voltage and decreased frequency (8-12 Hz).

Stage 2

Light sleep.
Progressive reduction in consciousness and
increasing resistance to being awakened.

Alpha waves with bursts of sleep spindles, which are high-amplitude

waves that periodically interrupt alpha rhythm (12-15 Hz).

Stage 3

Moderate sleep.
Muscle tone decreases, heart and respiratory rates
decrease, blood pressure falls, heart rate and
metabolism slow; and pupils constrict.

Theta waves: slower and larger waves (4-7 Hz).

Stage 4

Deepest sleep.
Progressive relaxation
Individual is extremely difficult to arouse.
Amount of time spent in this stage decreases with
age and may disappear by 60 years of age.

Delta waves: very slow, very large waves (1-3 Hz).

Non-REM stage
Stage 1

REM Sleep
Paradoxical Sleep
Dream Sleep

Vivid dreams occur, muscles twitch, muscle tone

Desynchronized, rapid, low voltage wave pattern similar to beta
disappears, reflexes are inhibited, eye move rapidly,
waves that occur in alert individual.
respiration is irregular, and blood pressure fluctuates. Beta waves (similar to those seen during arousal) are asynchronous
Penile erection occurs in males.
waves of low amplitude and voltage and high frequency (18-30 Hz).
Five cycles of non-REM-REM sleep per night.
After second cycle, intervals between REM shorten,
and duration spent in REM lengthens.
As morning approaches, less time is spent in deep,
slow wave sleep, and individual periodically awakens.
Amount of time spent in REM is greatest in newborns
and declines with age.

**Behold All The Details (brain waves from most conscious to deepest sleep) Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta