Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

Normative values of polysomnographic parameters in childhood and adolescence: quantitative sleep parameters

Sabine Scholle1, Uta Beyer, Michael Bernhard

  • 1Zentrum für Schlaf- und Beatmungsmedizin, Robert-Koch-Krankenhaus Apolda GmbH, Apolda, Germany. sl@rkk-apolda.de

Sleep Medicine
|May 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study provides normative sleep macroarchitecture values for healthy children aged 1-18 years. Sleep patterns significantly change with age and pubertal development, but not with gender.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Understanding typical sleep macroarchitecture is crucial for identifying sleep disorders in children.
  • Previous studies have provided limited normative data, especially for specific age ranges and using current scoring criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish normative values for sleep macroarchitecture in healthy children aged 1-18 years.
  • To investigate the influence of age, gender, and Tanner pubertal stage on sleep parameters.

Main Methods:

  • One-night polysomnography was conducted in 16 laboratories on 209 healthy German children.
  • Data were analyzed using the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) sleep scoring criteria.

Main Results:

  • Significant age-dependent changes were observed in various sleep parameters, including sleep efficiency, sleep stages (N2, N3, REM), and sleep fragmentation.
  • Total sleep time and sleep period time decreased with age, while the awakening index and stage N2 increased.
  • Sleep macrostructure showed dependencies on Tanner pubertal stages, aligning with age-related changes. No gender differences were detected.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides valuable normative data for pediatric sleep macroarchitecture based on AASM criteria.
  • Findings highlight the dynamic development of sleep patterns throughout childhood and adolescence.
  • Discussion includes factors influencing sleep and AASM guideline modifications for scoring sleep fragmentation.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder04:33

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Published on: April 26, 2024

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults07:40

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults

Published on: January 26, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares often...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.