The Measurement of Sleep

How is sleep measured? This is an important question. The events of sleep are measured by way of the electroencephalogram (EEG). In addition, muscular activation is assessed with the use of an electromyogram (EMG). Finally, eye movements are investigated with the use of the electrooculogram (EOG). A normal night of sleeping is divided in four different stages. For instance, during REM sleep the EEG does show a pattern that resembles the pattern of the waking state, In which the sleeping person produces rapid eye movements. Other stages, non-REM sleep display slower rhythms in the EEG. There are fout to five times alternations among REM sleep and non-REM sleep (Kolb and Whishaw, 2006, p. 479).