Sleep Pattern

[THT]

I was reading in a book and just confirmed on wiki, that peoples sleep patterns are roughly 90 minutes long.

Where are the beginning of the cycle, you are almost awake, dropping into a deep sleep after 45 mins, then in the next 45 mins, reversing that and then a lighter sleep before the pattern repeats again.

The book I read said that if you wake up in the middle of the cycle, you'll feel drowsier when you get up as your in a deeper sleep.

Now, the point, My gf gets up at 6 to go to work, does it make sense that if im in the deepest point of my sleep (45 mins in), that i'll find it easier to get back to sleep?

 

[.Lethal]

The book is just a theory it isn't factual. (as far as I am aware).

Take in the amount you sleep, some sleep 4 hours some sleep 10hrs per day.. so many variations and theorys must be out there. Same goes for why do people have dreams.

 

[THT]

Well its true about the sleep cycle in general, many sources confirm...

 

[Kreeeee]

So it's a popular theory, doesn't make it fact.

 

[Dr_Fartypants]

So it's a popular theory, doesn't make it fact.

You think it's just something people have 'made up' ?

There are been numerous scientific studies on sleep. There is an entire field of research devoted to sleep science, after all...

Volunteers sleep with electrodes on their head, which record brainwave patterns. These patterns indicate the behavior of the brain in different states. The 'sleep cycle' the OP is referring to is a well documented phenomenon, and was identified a long time ago.

Current research focuses more on deeper scans of the brain during sleep, to see how the different areas of the brain are activated, and to what degree, when sleeping. Particularly when dreaming.

There is still A LOT about sleep that we do not know, but plenty that we do know. So, to answer your 'question', just because it's a popular theory doesn't make it fact, but the numerous scientific and peer-reviewed studies do.

 

[pitchfork]

Does it matter?
I mean whatever happens you're going to feel like crap when you wake up (well i always do) so you need to lie there and recover from feeling so god awful when you wake up.

 

[Kreeeee]

So, to answer your 'question', just because it's a popular theory doesn't make it fact, but the numerous scientific and peer-reviewed studies do.

Never heard of scientific models then? They are changed all the time because they are just that, a model, not a set in stone fact.

 

[THT]

Thanks for the reply Dr Farty Pants!.
What are your views on my original question?

 

[Dr_Fartypants]

Never heard of scientific models then? They are changed all the time because they are just that, a model, not a set in stone fact.

Scientific models are refined, not changed completely. Observed behavior does not suddenly change.

Take physics as an example. First we had Newtonian mechanics, which describes what happens on everyday scales of length and time. Eventually it was discovered that at the smallest and largest lengthscales this was not valid. As a result, relativity and quantum mechanics were developed. But, Newtonian mechanics is still valid to an extrodinary precision in 'normal' conditions, and BOTH relativity and QM predict this as a consequence.

So, we may one day gain a deeper understanding of the operation of the brain, but that will not change the fact that sleep patterns occur in a cyclical fashion. It will simply mean that we can explain this observed behavior as a consequence of a more fundamental principle.

 

[Kreeeee]

Scientific models are refined, not changed completely. Observed behavior does not suddenly change.

Take physics as an example. First we had Newtonian mechanics, which describes what happens on everyday scales of length and time. Eventually it was discovered that at the smallest and largest lengthscales this was not valid. As a result, relativity and quantum mechanics were developed. But, Newtonian mechanics is still valid to an extrodinary precision in 'normal' conditions, and BOTH relativity and QM predict this as a consequence.

So, we may one day gain a deeper understanding of the operation of the brain, but that will not change the fact that sleep patterns occur in a cyclical fashion. It will simply mean that we can explain this observed behavior as a consequence of a more fundamental principle.

I never said the change was sudden or large, and I never denied that we sleep in cycles. All I stated was that the 90 minute cycle is not a solid fact

 

[Dr_Fartypants]

I never said the change was sudden or large, and I never denied that we sleep in cycles. All I stated was that the 90 minute cycle is not a solid fact

Yep - in fact it varies considerably from person to person. About 90mins is the average though I believe.

Thanks for the reply Dr Farty Pants!.
What are your views on my original question?

I don't think I know enough to give you a solid answer I'm afraid. I know that if you wake up *and stay up* in the middle of a sleep cycle, you will take a lot longer to 'come round', and will generally feel drowsier all day. I'm sure your book told you this as well.

I would imagine that if you try to go back to sleep it would be easier when you're in the middle of the sleep cycle than at the end, but I couldn't say for sure. You're more likely to be dreaming when in the middle-end part of your sleep cycle, and for me it seems easier to drift off again when I've been dreaming than otherwise.

 

[THT]

Yeah thats kinda what I thought, she always wakes me up!
So im trying to make it easier for myself to sleep again!

Thanks for input

 

[oldbag]

I was told by a sports trainer that you should sleep even numbered hours. For example, if I sleep a 6 hour night I feel much better than if I slept 7.

 

[Dr_Fartypants]

I was told by a sports trainer that you should sleep even numbered hours. For example, if I sleep a 6 hour night I feel much better than if I slept 7.

Yeah, that assumes a two hour sleep cycle. This is at the longer end of what is common. My sleep cycles are almost two hours, but I think that most people's are closer to 90mins.

 

[reflex]

I've got into the habbit of sleeping about 10/11 hours! Have to stop.

 

[THT]

So how the cheese do you tell what your sleep cycle is?

 

[Dr_Fartypants]

So how the cheese do you tell what your sleep cycle is?

Well the quick, accurate and expensive way would be to go to a sleep centre.

The more realistic way is to make notes on how long you sleep. If you sleep uninterrupted (ie no alarm / GF waking you up etc) then you will (almost) always will sleep a multiple of your sleep cycle.

So, say your sleep cycle is just under 2hrs. You might find that you sleep a little under 8hrs most times, and occasionally a little under 6hrs or a little under 10hrs.

It takes quite a lot of time to work out the pattern, but you'll figure it out eventually. It's easier to work out if you take naps, since these tend to be just one sleep cycle.

 

[THT]

ok for a nap, normally its just over 90 minutes...