SLEEP STAGES
This is the lightest stage of NREM sleep and is the transition from wakefulness to sleep
N1
This common stimulant can make it harder to fall asleep and can interfere with sleep when consumed too late in the day.
Caffeine
This hormone-like substance is associated with regulation of the sleep-wake/circadian rhythm and is commonly taken as a supplement.
What is melatonin?
True or False: Your brain can be highly active during REM sleep even though your skeletal muscles are largely paralyzed.
True
You can experience this sensation of suddenly falling just as you're drifting off to sleep, sometimes causing your entire body to jerk.
What is a hypnic jerk?
Sleep spindles and K-complexes are characteristic of this NREM stage.
N2
This substance suppresses REM sleep and slow wave sleep, and can disrupt breathing when sleeping
Opioids
This medication is an antihistamine that can cause sedation and is sometimes used for anxiety or to help with sleep.
What is hydroxyzine (Vistaril)?
True or False: Dreaming only occurs during REM sleep.
False
Some people can become aware that they're dreaming and actually influence what happens in the dream.
What is lucid dreaming?
This is the deepest stage of NREM sleep and is often called slow-wave or deep sleep.
N3
This substance suppresses REM in the first half of the night and then metabolizes
ETOH
This tricyclic antidepressant is used at low doses for sleep-maintenance insomnia.
What is doxepin?
True or False: A person can experience sleep paralysis while falling asleep, not just while waking up.
True
You can dream that you've woken up, gotten out of bed, and started your morning—only to actually wake up and realize you were dreaming the entire thing.
What is a false awakening?
This stage is associated with vivid dreaming, rapid eye movements, and temporary skeletal-muscle atonia.
REM
This substances usually causes you to wake up with a racing heart
This antidepressant is commonly used off-label for insomnia because of its sedating effects, particularly at lower doses.
What is trazodone?
True or False: Sleeping longer always produces more restorative sleep.
False
This sleep phenomenon can make you feel like someone is sitting on your chest or standing in your bedroom while you're unable to move.
What is sleep paralysis?
This is the approximate length of one complete sleep cycle in an adult.
What is 90–110 minutes?
This substance increases N2 but will reduce N3 and REM, causing the night to be longer
Benzodiazepines
This medication is better known for treating restless legs syndrome than for being a traditional hypnotic. It works as a dopamine agonist.
What is ropinirole (Requip)?
You can remember dreams from both REM and NREM sleep.
False
A person wakes up and sees a person, animal, or shadow in their bedroom. They're completely convinced it's real, but the experience occurs during the transition between sleep and wakefulness.
What is a hypnopompic hallucination?