Skip to main content

Sleep-Wake Cycle

Meaning

The sleep-wake cycle is the primary manifestation of the circadian rhythm, representing the approximately 24-hour pattern of alternating periods of sleep and wakefulness in an organism. This cycle is a fundamental physiological process, crucial for cognitive restoration, metabolic regulation, and hormonal synthesis and release. Disruption of this cycle, often due to behavioral or environmental factors, is clinically associated with impaired glucose tolerance, increased systemic inflammation, and compromised mental health.