Sleeping+Stage+N3

Sleeping Stage N3 is the deepest stage of sleep. Stage N3 sleep is called slow-wave sleep. Just recently Sleeping stage N4 (greater than 50% delta waves) was added to N3. N3 is acquired when only 20% of delta waves (0.5 to 2 Hz) are present This is the stage where parasomnias such as night terrors, nocturnal enuresis, bed wetting, sleepwalking, and somniloquy occur.

Slow-wave sleep is the period when a person is least affected by its outside environment. At this point it is very difficult to wake up from noise, like an alarm clock. If you are waken up during this period, you are likely to be tired. Sleep inertia is the period for 30 minutes after when you wake up in slow-wave sleep. During sleep inertia your brain activity and mental performance are slower and less accurate. If you are sleep deprived, slow-wave sleep will be longer and deeper in order to restore energy. Some of the few factors known to increase slow-wave sleep in the sleep period that follows them include body heating, high carbohydrate ingestion, and long exercise.

Back to Sleeping


 * Table of Contents: **
 * = REM ||= Stage N1 ||= Stage N2 ||= Stage N3 ||
 * = Sleeping Habits ||= Sleeping Disorders ||= Bibliography ||=  ||