Stages of Sleep and Brain Wave Patterns

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing the characteristics of sleep stages 1 through 4, REM sleep, paradoxical sleep, EEG brain wave patterns, and nightly sleep progression.

Stage 1 Sleep

A brief sleep stage lasting 1-7 minutes characterized by small, irregular brain waves, slowing breathing and heart rate (HR), decreasing muscle tension and body temperature, and the ability to be easily awakened.

Stages 2, 3, & 4

Sleep stages during which respiration rate, heart rate (HR), muscle tension, and body temperature continue to decrease, relatively little dreaming occurs, and various EEG activities take place.

Beta Waves

Fast, low-amplitude brain waves that are characteristic of ordinary wakefulness as well as REM sleep.

Alpha Waves

Rhythmic brain waves characteristic of relaxed wakefulness.

Sleep Spindles

Spindle-shaped brain waves that appear during Stage 2 sleep.

Delta Waves

Large, slow brain waves that appear during Stage 3 and Stage 4 sleep.

REM Sleep

A stage of sleep standing for rapid-eye movement because the sleeper's eyes move rapidly around under the closed eyelids, characterized by high-frequency brain waves (beta waves).

Paradoxical Sleep

An alternate term for REM sleep, so named because the high level of brain wave activity is almost indistinguishable from the waking state while muscle activity is simultaneously blocked.

REM (5th Stage) Characteristics

A deep stage of sleep from which it is difficult to awaken someone, marked by irregular breathing and pulse, virtual paralysis due to extremely relaxed muscle tone, high-frequency beta waves, and being the stage when most dreaming occurs.

Nightly REM Pattern

The progression across the hours of sleep wherein REM sleep increases through the night.