slow-wave sleep
noun
: the phase of non-REM sleep marked by the deepest sleep and the highest levels of delta wave activity with brain and muscle activity significantly reduced, loss of response to external stimuli greatest, and with heart rate and respiration at lowest levels
Note: Sleep time spent in slow-wave sleep is of longer duration during infancy and childhood.
Deep, or slow-wave sleep, when the body secretes human growth hormone, is critical for development and physical repair.—
Melinda Beck
Melinda BeckMembers of a second group were awakened every time they entered slow-wave sleep, a stage when dreams tend not to occur.—Sandra Blakeslee
—abbreviation SWS
Sandra BlakesleeExamples of slow-wave sleep in a Sentence
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The bad news is heat exposure has been shown to increase wakefulness and decrease slow-wave sleep (the most restorative sleep stage) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is important for emotional processing.
—Samson McDougall, Health, 9 Aug. 2024
The work directly tied the oscillations of slow-wave sleep to memory—and pointed to a way of using slow-wave sleep to improve memory.
—Ingrid Wickelgren, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2024
In contrast, there was no effect when the sounds were played during slow-wave sleep.
—Ingrid Wickelgren, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2024
These stages are followed by deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, where the body undergoes significant restorative processes.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 31 Jan. 2024
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Samson McDougall, Health, 9 Aug. 2024
The work directly tied the oscillations of slow-wave sleep to memory—and pointed to a way of using slow-wave sleep to improve memory.
—Ingrid Wickelgren, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2024
In contrast, there was no effect when the sounds were played during slow-wave sleep.
—Ingrid Wickelgren, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2024
These stages are followed by deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, where the body undergoes significant restorative processes.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 31 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for slow-wave sleep
Dictionary Entries Near slow-wave sleep
Cite this Entry
“Slow-wave sleep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slow-wave%20sleep. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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slow-wave sleep
noun
: the phase of non-REM sleep marked by the deepest sleep and the highest levels of delta wave activity with brain and muscle activity significantly reduced, loss of response to external stimuli greatest, and with heart rate and respiration at lowest levels
Note: Sleep time spent in slow-wave sleep is of longer duration during infancy and childhood.
Members of a second group were awakened every time they entered slow-wave sleep a stage when dreams tend not to occur.—Sandra Blakeslee
—abbreviation SWS
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