Question

As we progress from Stage 1 to Stage 4 sleep, which statement BEST describes how our brain waves change?

a. They become faster and larger .
b. They become faster and smaller .
c. They become slower and larger.
d. They become slower and smaller.

Answer 1

In the different stages of sleep, our brain waves slow down and become smaller. Stage 1 sleep is characterized by alpha and theta waves, while Stage 2 includes sleep spindles and K-complexes. Stage 3 is deep sleep characterized by delta waves, and REM sleep resembles wakefulness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is d. They become slower and smaller. As we progress from Stage 1 to Stage 4 sleep, our brain waves slow down and decrease in frequency. In Stage 1, we experience alpha and theta waves, which have lower frequencies and higher amplitudes than beta waves in wakefulness.

As we move into Stage 2, theta waves still dominate the activity of the brain, but they are interrupted by bursts of higher frequency brain waves called sleep spindles. In Stage 3, we enter deep sleep characterized by the lowest frequency and highest amplitude brain waves called delta waves. Finally, during REM sleep, our brain waves resemble those observed when awake.