Body movements during sleep as a predictor of stage change

Abstract

The number of body movements during the 10-min period of Stage 2 just preceding and following SWS and REM sleep were counted in 10 males for 9 to 11 nights each. There was a significantly greater number of 10-min periods of Stage 2 without movement before SWS than after SWS, before REM sleep, and after REM sleep. The last movements in Stage 2 preceding SWS occurred, in most instances, at least 5 min or more before this transition. These data suggest that body movement in Stage 2 may delay the transition from this stage to SWS. © 1972, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.