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Rest Activity Coupling

Meaning

Rest Activity Coupling is a quantitative metric in chronobiology and sleep science that measures the degree of coherence and temporal regularity between an individual’s periods of high physical activity (wakefulness) and their periods of low physical activity (sleep or rest). A high coupling score indicates a strong, well-defined circadian rhythm with clear boundaries between the active and inactive phases. Clinically, strong coupling is a biomarker for a robust central circadian clock, superior sleep quality, and optimal diurnal hormone expression.