Sleep Science
Instructions: How much do you know about the science of sleep and dreams?
- 1.
What does REM stand for in the sleep cycle?
ARelaxed Energy ModeBRapid Eye MovementCRestful Evening ModeDRecurrent Energy Motion - 2.
How many stages of sleep are there in one complete sleep cycle?
ATwoBFiveCFourDThree - 3.
What hormone does the brain produce to make you feel sleepy?
AMelatoninBAdrenalineCDopamineDCortisol - 4.
What is the body's internal 24-hour clock called?
ASleep cycleBMetabolic clockCCircadian rhythmDBiorhythm - 5.
During which stage of sleep does the body do most of its physical repair and growth?
AStage N1 (light sleep)BStage N2CREM sleepDStage N3 (deep sleep) - 6.
What is insomnia?
ASleeping too muchBSleeping during the dayCDifficulty falling or staying asleepDWalking in your sleep - 7.
What sleep disorder causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep?
AInsomniaBNarcolepsyCSleep apneaDRestless leg syndrome - 8.
Most vivid dreams occur during which stage of sleep?
AREM sleepBStage N1CStage N2DStage N3 - 9.
What is the average number of sleep cycles a person goes through per night?
A1-2B8-10C4-6D3-4 - 10.
What is sleep paralysis?
AA type of comaBTemporary inability to move while falling asleep or waking upCPermanent muscle damage from sleeping wrongDA form of sleepwalking - 11.
What effect does blue light from screens have on sleep?
AIt improves sleep qualityBIt suppresses melatonin productionCIt has no effect on sleepDIt increases deep sleep - 12.
What condition causes people to suddenly fall asleep during the day, even in the middle of activities?
AChronic fatigue syndromeBJet lagCNarcolepsyDHypersomnia - 13.
As people age, how does their sleep typically change?
AThey need more sleepBThey sleep more soundlyCThey stop dreamingDThey experience less deep sleep - 14.
What is the term for the body's decrease in temperature that helps initiate sleep?
AHypothermiaBThermal dippingCThermoregulationDCore cooling - 15.
What is a 'power nap' typically defined as?
AA 2-hour afternoon sleepBA 10-20 minute napCSleeping in on weekendsDA full sleep cycle nap
Answer Key
REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, a sleep stage characterized by quick eye movements, increased brain activity, and vivid dreaming.
There are four stages of sleep: three stages of non-REM sleep (N1, N2, and N3) plus REM sleep. A complete cycle takes about 90 minutes and repeats several times per night.
Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness. It signals to the body that it is time to sleep, helping regulate the sleep-wake cycle.
The circadian rhythm is the body's internal 24-hour clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, body temperature, and other vital functions.
Stage N3, also called deep sleep or slow-wave sleep, is when the body performs most physical repair, tissue growth, and immune system strengthening.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times per night. It can lead to poor sleep quality, daytime fatigue, and cardiovascular problems.
The most vivid and memorable dreams occur during REM sleep, when the brain is highly active. REM periods get longer as the night progresses.
Most people go through 4-6 complete sleep cycles per night, with each cycle lasting approximately 90 minutes.
Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up. It occurs when the brain awakens from REM sleep but the body remains in its REM-related muscle paralysis.
Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. This is why experts recommend avoiding screens for at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to control sleep-wake cycles, causing sudden, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the day.
As people age, they typically experience less deep sleep (N3 stage), wake up more frequently during the night, and may shift to earlier bedtimes and wake times.
Thermoregulation plays a key role in sleep. The body's core temperature naturally drops by 1-2 degrees as you fall asleep, and this cooling process helps initiate and maintain sleep.
A power nap is a short nap of about 10-20 minutes, designed to boost alertness and performance without causing grogginess. Longer naps may lead to sleep inertia.