The Sleep Process

As we fall asleep, we enter the transition sleep called Stage 1 and begin our first sleep cycle. Within a few minutes we go into our Stage 2 sleep. Stage 2 sleep is where the other three stages come from.

Within 15-20 minutes we have gradually evolved into Stage 3 then Stage 4 sleep. Stages 2, 3, 4 are called delta sleep or NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. Our respiration and heart beat slowdown during these 4 stages. Our body also becomes immobile.

After almost half an hour of NREM sleep, our brain goes loco and we go back to stage 2 sleep and then go to REM (rapid eye movement) sleep where our brain becomes very active and our respiration and heart rate increases again. This is the stage where our dreams occur. Our eyes also move in all directions under our eyelids. The REM sleep will happen for only about 10-20 minutes and then goes back to stage 2 again.

 This marks the end of the first sleep cycle and then starts all over again. As we start all over again we gradually loose our time for NREM sleep and replace it with longer alternating stage 2 and REM sleep and by the final sleep cycle, we will spend about half our time in stage 2 sleep and half in REM sleep. Sleep normally ends after six cycles.