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Sleep-Wake Cycles

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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).
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Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster

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Published on: October 20, 2023

Feeling sleepy? You are not alone.

Stephanie Chalupka¹

¹Dr. Lillian R. Goodman Department of Nursing, Worcester State University, Worcester, MA, USA. stephanie.chalupka@worcester.edu

Workplace Health & Safety

|June 5, 2012

Summary

A significant portion of the workforce, 30%, are not getting adequate sleep, sleeping less than 6 hours daily. This widespread sleep deprivation impacts national worker health and productivity.

Area of Science:

Occupational health
Sleep science
Public health surveillance

Background:

Insufficient sleep is a growing public health concern.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights the prevalence of sleep deficiency in the United States.
Understanding the scope of sleep deprivation among workers is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the percentage of the U.S. workforce experiencing short sleep duration (less than 6 hours per day).
To provide data on sleep patterns within the working population for public health initiatives.

Main Methods:

Analysis of national survey data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Reporting on self-reported sleep duration among adult workers.

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Published on: September 22, 2020

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

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Published on: October 2, 2019

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

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Published on: October 20, 2023

A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice

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

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Published on: October 2, 2019

Main Results:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 30% of the nation's workers sleep less than 6 hours per day.
This indicates a substantial segment of the workforce is experiencing chronic sleep deficiency.

Conclusions:

A significant public health issue exists regarding insufficient sleep among U.S. workers.
Further research and interventions are needed to address widespread sleep deprivation in the workforce.