What does SWS stand for?

This period of very deep sleep, known as slow wave sleep (not as well known as dreaming REM sleep) comes first, helping the brain process memories so they stay put.

Results indicate that in long-term alcoholics who had not had a drink for up to 719 days, the percentage of slow wave sleep was significantly lower (6.

Stage Description Duration W Wakefulness ~16 hours N1 Somnolence; "drowsy," easily awakened 1-5% N2 Asleep -50% N3 Slow Wave Sleep ~7% (SWS) Transition to deep sleep N4 Slow Wave Sleep ~20-25% (SWS) Deep sleep REM1-4 Rapid Eye Movement ~20-25% Stage EEG Brainwave pattern Events and abnormalities W Alpha waves Daytime consciousness N1 Theta waves Hypnogogic twitches, hallucinations N2 Slower waves, sleep spindles, K-complexes Unconsciousness N3 <50% delta waves Melatonin peak, (SWS) night terrors, parasomnias N4 >50% delta waves Minimum core temperature, (SWS) rebounds after deprivation REM1-4 Rapid low-voltage EEG Dreaming, low muscle tone, rebounds after deprivation

Enhanced hippocampus activity during slow wave sleep reflects the processing of memory traces, which eventually leads to an improvement in performance the next day," the scientists conclude in the Oct.

While no further decreases in the percentage slow wave sleep were found as the men aged beyond midlife, the total amount of sleep decreased by nearly a half an hour per decade.

visually scored slow wave sleep or objectively measured slow wave activity (SWA) as compared to placebo (5 mg: p<0.

Results indicate that in long-term alcoholics who had not had a drink for up to 719 days, the percentage of slow wave sleep was significantly lower (6.

CFS patients experienced a prolonged sleep latency, showed a low sleep efficiency index, and had a low percentage of slow wave sleep.