Final answer:
In NREM sleep, the body's physiological activity decreases and brain wave patterns slow down, leading to a reduced heart rate and respiration. This indicates a depressed response to oxygen when compared to wakefulness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question refers to the body's response to oxygen (O2) during the different stages of sleep, particularly non-rapid eye movement (NREM) versus wakefulness (W). To answer this, we look at the characteristics of NREM sleep, during which there is a general decrease in physiological activity compared to wakefulness. Brain wave patterns become slower and have higher amplitude as one progresses from stage 1 to the deep sleep of stage 3, also known as slow-wave sleep.
During NREM sleep, the body experiences a reduction in heart rate and respiration. These changes suggest a depressed response to oxygen demand in comparison to wakefulness, where the body has higher metabolic and physiological requirements requiring more oxygen. Therefore, the response to oxygen in NREM sleep is typically depressed compared to when a person is awake.