Measuring Sleep

Electroencephalography (EEG)

a device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the brain (name brain wave)

Electromyography (EMG)

a device that detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the body's muscles (low, medium, high activity)

Electro-oculography (EOG)

a device that detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the muscles around the eye (low, medium, high activity)

sleep diaries

a record containing self-reported descriptions from an individual about their sleeping periods, including an estimated time spent sleeping and judgements they might have about the quality and nature of their sleep

video monitoring

the use of camera and audio technologies to record an individual as they sleep

polysomnography

intensive study of a sleeping person using physiological methods

frequency

number of brain waves per second (width of wave)

high frequency = lots of waves close together

amplitude

the intensity of the brain waves (height of wave)

high amplitude = higher peaks and troughs

frequency/amplitude for EEG

high frequency, low amplitude --> awakeness

low frequency, high amplitude --> sleep

activity for EMG

high activity --> awake

low activity --> NREM

no activity --> REM

activity for EOG

high-medium activity --> awake

low activity --> NREM

high activity --> REM

high activity --> REM