humans have two main types of sleep, Rapid eye movement (REM) and Non-Rapid Eye movement (Nrem)
REM
- Recognized as active sleep with eye movement.
- Dreams are typically remembered during this stage.
- This is where sleep begins
- Broken up into N1, N2, and N3.
- N1- This stage is known as light sleep. We experience hypnagogic images such as hallucinations or vivid visual events and hypnic jerks in knees, legs, or our whole body. Lasts anywhere from 1 to 7 minutes
- N2- We experience sleep spindles, which are brief bursts of activity lasting only a second or two. Usually lasts about 10 to 25 minutes.
- N3- This stage is known as deep sleep. We are in the lowest level of functioning during N3 and experience growth. Typically lasts about 20 to 40 minutes.
how long is my sleep cycle?
- The first REM-NREM cycle lasts anywhere from 70 to 100 minutes. The second REM-NREM cycle and any after that lasts anywhere from 90 to 120 minutes.
- The most effective length for a nap would be anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.
Citations
http://www.annewilmusphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Jefferson-Hills-newborn-baby-photographer-Anne-Wilmus-Photography.jpg
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/science/what/sleep-patterns-rem-nrem
https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-89349e5a8402946d48f5bd5162901448?convert_to_webp=true
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/science/what/sleep-patterns-rem-nrem
https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-89349e5a8402946d48f5bd5162901448?convert_to_webp=true