Final answer:
To enhance a low voltage slow wave being masked by muscle activity during sleep, one should maximize parasympathetic stimulation to reduce muscle tension and maintain a cool body temperature to suppress muscle activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
To enhance a low voltage slow wave that is being masked by muscle activity, a student should focus on settings that would reduce muscle interference and highlight brain wave activity. Slow wave sleep, especially in NREM stage 3, is characterized by high amplitude and low frequency delta waves. During this stage, heart rate and respiration slow down significantly, making it harder to wake someone from sleep. However, muscle activity, which can produce electrical noise and mask these delta waves, can be minimized by ensuring a relaxation of muscles, possibly through promoting parasympathetic stimulation. This decreases overall muscle tension and can help make the low voltage slow waves more discernible. Additionally, maintaining a comfortable and slightly cooler body temperature may further suppress muscle activity and aid in enhancing the low voltage slow waves, as body temperature impacts muscle contraction and relaxation.