EEG and Sleep Stages Module Map

Purpose  To describe the five stages of the sleep cycle and the electroencephalograph (EEG).

Summary  The module describes the method of measuring electrical activity in the brain and the resulting EEG tracings obtained during sleep and provides an exercise quizzing students on the EEG pattern for each of the five sleep stages. REM sleep and dreams are discussed, followed by a simulation of the sleep cycle in which students wake a sleeper to obtain reports of sleep thoughts and true dreams. The module concludes with a discussion of the purpose of sleep, placing sleep in the larger context of biological rhythms.

Introduction
EEG
EEG tracings
States of alertness
EEG tracings during sleep
Stages of sleep
REM sleep
Testing your knowledge
Sleep thoughts
Dreaming
The sleep cycle
EEG and dream reports
Sleep simulation
Purpose of sleep
Other biological cycles
Summary
References


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