What does the term "sleep architecture" describe?

The term "sleep architecture" refers to the structure and pattern of sleep cycles throughout the night. It encompasses the different stages of sleep, including non-REM (NREM) sleep and REM sleep, and how these stages cycle and overlap during a typical sleep period. Understanding sleep architecture is crucial for assessing sleep quality and diagnosing sleep disorders, as it provides insights into the organization and stability of sleep patterns.

In this context, sleep architecture involves not only the duration of each sleep stage but also the transitions between them, such as how long one remains in deep sleep versus light sleep or REM sleep. Factors such as the length of sleep cycles, the amount of time spent awake during the night, and the ratios of different sleep stages contribute to an individual's overall sleep architecture. This makes it a comprehensive term reflecting the dynamic nature of sleep rather than just a single aspect of sleep quality or duration.