Some of this wiring difference may be innate, and some of it may be programmed. For example, we all know people (often dubbed “larks”) who function better and are bursting with energy in the morning, and others (“owls”) who work more efficiently far into the evening. Not everyone’s biological clock is wired the same way. It’s made up of specific molecules that interact with cells throughout the body. The biological clock is a natural timing device that regulates our circadian rhythms. In fact, sleeping at night and waking during the day is an example of a light-related circadian rhythm, often referred to as the “sleep/wake cycle.” The sleep/wake cycle can affect eating habits, digestion, body temperature, release of hormones, and other vital functions. These processes affect most living things, and respond mainly to light and dark. Circadian Rhythms and the Biological ClockĬircadian rhythms are the physical, mental and behavioral changes in the body that follow a 24-hour cycle. A full sleep cycle generally takes about 90 to 110 minutes then, the cycle repeats throughout the night. REM stages make up about 25% of sleep in adults, with each stage getting longer and longer the first stage may last a few minutes, while later stages may last for up to an hour.Įach stage of sleep has a characteristic pattern of brain waves that can be seen on a machine called an electroencephalograph (EEG). Generally, a person enters a REM sleep stage after they’ve been asleep for about 90 minutes. – Stage 4/REM: REM sleep is thought to be essential for cognitive functions such as memory, learning and creativity. Deep sleep typically occurs in the first half of the night, and lasts for 20-40 minutes in each sleep stage cycle. Some experts believe this stage is critical for restorative sleep. – Stage 3/N3: This is deep sleep, during which the body relaxes even more. These are believed to help stabilize memory. Brain activity generally slows as well, although there are short bursts of activity, called sleep spindles. – Stage 2/N2: This is when the body enters a more relaxed state temperature drops and breathing and heart rate slow. The body hasn’t fully relaxed yet, and it’s easy to wake up during this time. – Stage 1/N1: This is the “dozing off” period, which typically lasts one to five minutes. NREM sleep consists of several stages, labeled N1 through N3, indicating the depth of sleep. The two main components of normal sleep are REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when the most vivid dreaming occurs, and non-REM sleep (NREM). Sleep is a complex process that occurs in stages, and we cycle in and out of these stages during the night.
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