How can sweat artifact negatively impact polysomnography results?

Sweat artifact can negatively impact polysomnography results primarily because it can obscure relevant waveforms. During a sleep study, various physiological signals are recorded, including brain waves, muscle activity, and heart rhythms. When a patient sweats, moisture can create interference with the electrodes that are placed on the scalp, face, or body. This moisture introduces electrical noise or distortion, which can mask the true signals of interest and make it challenging for clinicians to accurately interpret the data. As a result, vital information about a patient's sleep patterns and potential disorders may be missed, leading to incorrect diagnoses or treatment plans.

The other choices suggest that sweat artifact either clarifies signals or enhances the quality of readings, which is not accurate in the context of polysomnography. Additionally, providing additional data may imply some positive contribution, but in reality, the interference caused by sweat undermines the integrity of the primary signals being measured.