Varying the value of the parameter interDistance, which determines the degree of overlap between the food and sleep clusters (see Figure 2), we found that cluster overlap had a strong effect on the phasing of sleep-wake cycling over the 24-hour period.
The purpose of our model is to investigate how sleep characteristics, such as the total duration of sleep, the phasing of sleep-wake cycles (monophasic versus polyphasic sleep, measured as number of sleep bouts), and whether agents sleep flexibly or inflexibly, are impacted by ecological factors.
We focus on three primary aspects of sleep as dependent variables: the total duration of sleep per 24-hours, the phasing of sleep-wake cycles, measured as the number of sleep bouts (monophasic versus polyphasic sleep) per 24 hours, and whether animals sleep flexibly (i.e., when short of sleep relative to food) or inflexibly (i.e., specific blocks of time per day).
It can tell which phase of sleep you're in between light, deep and REM sleep.
And, of course, our eyes dart around during the 'rapid eye movement' (REM) phase of sleep.
EEG readings have revealed several distinct phases of sleep characterized by different brain-wave patterns.
To have restful sleep, each phase of sleep must be completed; otherwise, sleep disruption will result.
Using the accelerometer in your iPhone, the app monitors your movement and determines which phase of sleep you're in.
The first window for REM parasomnias opens with the initial phase of sleep associated with vivid dreams.
They also spent less time in the deepest phase of sleep, the scientists found.
