Which stage of sleep is characterized by delta waves?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks which stage of sleep is characterized by delta waves. Delta waves are the slowest and highest-amplitude brain waves, and they are a hallmark of the deepest stage of non-rapid eye movement sleep.

In sleep science, sleep is divided into stages: N1 (light sleep, theta waves), N2 (sleep spindles and K-complexes), N3 (deep sleep, also called slow-wave sleep, dominated by delta waves), and REM sleep (desynchronized, similar to wakefulness, with sawtooth patterns and rapid eye movements).

Option analysis without explicit choices: 
- If you see a label like NREM-3 or Stage 3 sleep, that corresponds to deep sleep where delta activity is predominant. Delta waves indicate synchronized neural firing across large-scale networks, which is typical of restorative deep sleep. This makes NREM-3 the correct association for delta waves.

- If a choice suggested REM sleep, that would be incorrect, because REM is characterized by low-amplitude, mixed-frequency waves (desynchronized activity) and rapid eye movements, not delta waves.

- If a choice suggested lighter sleep stages like N1 or N2, those stages show theta activity (N1) or sleep spindles/K-complexes (N2) rather than delta waves, so those would be incorrect associations for delta waves.

- If there were a choice that conflated multiple stages or claimed delta waves occur across several stages, that would be inaccurate, since delta-dominated activity is a defining feature of NREM-3 specifically.

Overall, understanding that delta waves are the signature of deep slow-wave sleep (NREM-3) clarifies why the stage described by delta activity is the deepest non-REM sleep stage, distinct from lighter NREM stages and from REM sleep.

PSYCH N110-LEC-002 Chapter Assignment 2

Which stage of sleep is characterized by delta waves?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

24. Stage 3 sleep is characterized by: A. Beta waves B. Delta waves C. Sleep spindles D. Rapid eye movements

16. Stage 1 sleep resembles wakefulness because it shows: A. Delta waves B. Spindles and K-complexes C. Low amplitude, high frequency EEG D. Theta-suppression waves Answer: C. Low amplitude, high frequency EEG

When our brain waves are in the waves activity, one would be in stage one of sleep.

When we enter this stage of sleep, our brain waves change to theta waves.

In this stage of sleep, we are no longer responsive to the outside world and our sensory experiences drop.

Each stage of sleep is characterized by different types of brain wave patterns.

Question at position 17 ________ is the deepest stage of sleep, during which we are least responsive to outside stimulation.Stage 1 sleepStage 3 sleepStage 4 sleepStage 2 sleep

Sleepwalking is most common during which stage of sleep?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler