Sleep Measuring Tools

The following instruments are used by scientists to measure sleep in humans.

1. EEGs (electroencephalograms) - This machine is used by the scientists to study electrical changes in the brain through electrodes and the data is represented by graphs as per their frequencies and termed as ‘waves’.

2. EOGs (electrooculograms) - The scientists use electrodes on the skin near the eye to measure changes in voltage as the eye rotates in its socket.

3. EMGs (electromyograms) - The scientists when using this technique, place electrodes on the skin overlaying a muscle.

In practice, EEGs, EOGs, and EMGs are recorded simultaneously on continuously moving chart paper or digitized by a computer and displayed on a high-resolution monitor. This allows the relationships among the three measurements to be seen immediately and the studying these data scientists decipher the sleeping pattern in human beings.

Five stages of sleep

1. First Stage- In this stage eye and muscle movements are slow.

2. Second stage- Eye movements stop, brain activity slows; infrequent rapid bursts of brain activity exist.

3. Third stage- Very slow brain activity, frequent small brain activity bursts. It is difficult to disturb at this deep sleep level.

4. Fourth stage- Only slow brain activity occurs now. No eye or muscle activity. It is difficult to disturb anyone at this deep sleep level. If awaken, it takes a few minutes to orientate one’s self.

5. Final stage REM (rapid eye movement)- Increased breathing, more irregular, shallow breathing, rapid random eye movement. Muscles in limbs become paralyzed temporarily. Heart beats increase per minute and there is gradual increase in blood pressure. Dreaming is frequent and sometimes vivid.

Functions of different organs during sleep cycle:

1. Endocrine system-Sleep determines the hormone secretion in human beings. For e.g. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in females which are responsible for menstrual and reproductive processes, are among the hormones released during sleep. In fact, the sleep-dependent release of luteinizing hormone is thought to be the event that initiates puberty. Other hormones, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone, are released prior to sleep.

2. Renal System- The kidney functioning, release of chemicals like sodium, potassium, calcium etc., plasma flow etc are reduced during sleep. This is the explanation of urine concentration in large amounts during sleep.

3. Alimentary system– The alimentary system in human beings slows down when a person goes to sleep. Secretion of digestive juices are decreased and reduces the digestion process.

Hence sound sleep is necessary for proper functioning of the body. Usually hours of sleep that is required varies from person to person but an adult human being need at least of 8 hours of sleep on a daily basis for normal functioning. Teenagers are recommended 9-10 hours of sleep.

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