Sleep Cycle

Definition

The sleep cycle refers to the pattern of stages that our body goes through while we are asleep, including both rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.

Related terms

Circadian Rhythm:

This refers to our internal biological clock that regulates our daily patterns of wakefulness and sleepiness.

Melatonin:

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness, helping regulate our sleep-wake cycle.

Insomnia:

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, leading to inadequate rest.