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What Happens When You Sleep? The Stages Explained
Sleep isn’t just one thing. It goes through different stages throughout the night. Understanding these stages can help you appreciate the importance of good sleep.
The Two Main Types of Sleep
Sleep is divided into two main types: Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.
Non-REM Sleep: Quiet Rest
NREM sleep has three stages, each helping your body rest in different ways.
Stage N1: Light Sleep
This is the stage between being awake and falling asleep. It’s easy to wake up from this stage.
Stage N2: Deeper Sleep Begins
Your heart rate and temperature drop in this stage. Brain waves slow down, but there are short bursts of activity.
Stage N3: Slow-Wave Sleep (Deep Sleep)
This is the deepest, most restorative sleep. It’s when your body repairs itself and strengthens your immune system.
REM Sleep: The Active Brain
REM sleep is when your eyes move quickly, your brain is very active, and you usually dream.
Brain Activity and Dreams
During REM sleep, your brain is almost as active as when you’re awake. This is when most of your vivid dreams happen.
Muscles Stay Still
A key part of REM sleep is that your muscles are temporarily paralyzed, so you don’t act out your dreams.
Why REM Sleep Matters
REM sleep is important for learning, memory, and creativity.
The Sleep Cycle: Moving Through the Stages
Throughout the night, you go through these NREM and REM stages in cycles. One full cycle usually lasts about 90-120 minutes.
How the Stages Progress
Early in the night, you spend more time in deep NREM sleep. Later, your REM sleep periods get