Question

A 25 year old client's wife complains to the nurse that he sleepwalks during the night. The nurse knows that his behavior normally occurs in which stage of sleep?

A. Stage 2: NREM
B. Stage 3: NREM
C. Stage 4: NREM
D. REM

Answer 1

Sleepwalking typically occurs during NREM Stage 3 sleep, or deep sleep, which is marked by delta wave activity. Sleep spindles and K-complexes, indicators of deeper sleep and important for learning and memory, are associated with Stage 2 NREM sleep.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client's sleepwalking behavior most commonly occurs during the NREM Stage 3 sleep, which is also known as deep sleep or slow-wave sleep. This stage is characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves, and during this time, it is much more difficult to awaken someone from sleep. Sleepwalking, a type of parasomnia, can involve complex behaviors, and the individual is usually not responsive to communication attempts during these episodes.

Sleep spindles and K-complexes, which are indications of NREM sleep, are most frequently associated with Stage 2 of NREM sleep. These sleep spindles are believed to be important for learning and memory and mark a period of deeper relaxation compared to Stage 1 sleep.