Understanding Sleep

Created: Jul 20, 2024
Updated: Jul 20, 2024

Understanding how we sleep is important to learning how to improve it 💤

Brain

Brainwaves reference

Note that brainwaves are measured using EGG, which may or may not lead to fully conclusive results. These are just approximate conclusions.

Generally, if you have high frequency brainwaves a majority of the time (meaning even when you're supposed to rest you still have fast brainwaves like beta/gamma), this could mean you're stressed/anxious.

On the other hand, if you have low frequency brainwaves a majority of the time (meaning in times when you're supposed to be learning your brainwaves are slow), this could mean some brain injury, depression, learning issue, or other reason that you're not paying attention well (may simply be daydreaming way too often, too).

Sleep stages

Two distinct stages:

When falling asleep, NREM is entered first, then REM. Homeostasis functions occur often during NREM, while in REM it becomes more rough.

One sleep cycle is usually N1-N2-N3-N2-REM. Whole sleep cycle is typically 90 ±\pm 20 minutes.

Image source from Sleep Foundation Organization

Effects of noise/sound on sleep

Lots of noise can disrupt sleep and cause poor sleep quality.

Some people claim that music can help in sleeping:

Whether or not it actually works is inconclusive.

Some people also use white/pink/brown noise to help them fall asleep better.

TODO research this up better, and evaluate which stages it helps

Hypnosis and effects

TODO research hypnosis

Sources

A ton of Wikipedia, random sites, and some papers:

Some interesting papers:

*insert cat furiously typing gif here*
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