Final answer:
Frequency in brainwave patterns refers to the number of brainwaves per second, while amplitude refers to their height. Various sleep stages like wakefulness, NREM, and REM show distinctive patterns in terms of these two measurements.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of brainwave patterns, frequency refers to the number of brainwaves that occur in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz). This indicates how fast the brainwave patterns are oscillating. Amplitude, on the other hand, refers to the height of the brainwaves, reflecting the magnitude of the brain's electrical activity during these waves. Brainwave patterns change throughout the different stages of sleep, with variations in both frequency and amplitude. For instance, beta waves, which are dominant during wakefulness, have a relatively high frequency and low amplitude. As sleep progresses from wakefulness into non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stages, brainwaves decrease in frequency and increase in amplitude, transitioning through various brainwave types such as alpha and theta waves. Sleep spindles and K-complexes observed during NREM sleep are examples of specific patterns defined by their unique frequency and amplitude characteristics.