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VICPsychologyQuick questions
Unit 4: How is mental wellbeing supported and maintained?
Quick questions on Sleep stages, REM and NREM cycles: VCE Psychology Unit 4
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the cyclical nature of sleep?Show answer
A night's sleep is not uniform. It moves through repeating sleep cycles, each lasting about 90 minutes, with around four to five cycles per night. Early in the night, cycles contain more deep NREM (N3) sleep; as the night progresses, REM periods lengthen and deep sleep shortens, so most REM occurs in the final third of the night.
What is measuring sleep?Show answer
Three physiological devices are used in a sleep laboratory.
What is sleep across the lifespan?Show answer
The amount and type of sleep change with age. Newborns sleep around 16 hours a day, with roughly 50 percent in REM. Children sleep less, and the REM proportion falls toward the adult level. Adults sleep about 7-9 hours with about 20 percent REM and substantial N3.
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