What is the Origin of Sleep Cycle Integrity?

This concept arises from polysomnography, where 'cycle' refers to the roughly 90-minute sequence, and 'integrity' implies wholeness and lack of structural deficit. In wellness science, we stress that simply spending time in bed is insufficient; the architecture of the sleep period must be preserved for endocrine benefit. It is a measure of restorative potential.

What is the Mechanism of Sleep Cycle Integrity?

Integrity is maintained when the balance between sleep-promoting (GABAergic) and wake-promoting (monoaminergic) systems is appropriately timed and balanced throughout the night. Deep SWS is facilitated by slow, high-amplitude delta waves, which correlates with peak nocturnal growth hormone secretion. Disruption of this sequence, perhaps by sleep apnea or light exposure, directly compromises the amplitude and duration of these hormonally critical stages.

Sleep Cycle Integrity ∞ Area

Sleep Cycle Integrity

Meaning

Sleep Cycle Integrity describes the maintenance of the natural, sequential progression through the distinct stages of sleep: Non-REM stages N1, N2, N3 (SWS), and REM sleep, without premature termination or undue fragmentation. High integrity ensures that the body achieves the necessary duration of SWS for physical restoration and REM for cognitive processing and emotional calibration. This structural completeness directly supports anabolic hormonal release.