Sleep spindle

A sleep spindle is a short burst of brain activity that occurs during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Sleep spindles are characterised by a distinctive pattern of brain waves that occurs in the frequency range of 11–16 Hz.

Sleep spindles are thought to play an important role in the consolidation of memories and the transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory. They have also been associated with improvements in cognitive functions such as attention and problem-solving abilities.

The presence of sleep spindles can be detected through the use of electroencephalography (EEG), which measures the electrical activity of the brain. Sleep spindles typically occur during stage 2 of NREM sleep and are susceptible to disruption from a variety of sources, including noise, light, and sleep disorders.

Research has suggested that sleep spindles may be affected by a variety of factors, such as age, genetics, and sleep quality. For example, older adults tend to have fewer and smaller sleep spindles than younger adults, which may contribute to age-related memory decline.



Sleep spindle