Sleep spindles
Sleep spindles represent an oscillating electrical potential in the brain. They have a characteristic frequency of 11–16 Hz (usually 12–14 Hz in healthy adults) and last from one to several seconds in duration[1]. On scalp electroencephalography (EEG), spindles are seen as sinusoidal waves that often have a fusiform or “crescendo-decrescendo” morphology[2]. See Figure 1.
References
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Sleep spindles: an overview. Sleep Med Rev. 2003 Oct;7(5):423-40. doi: 10.1053/smrv.2002.0252.
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The AASM Scoring Manual four years later. J Clin Sleep Med. 2012 Jun 15;8(3):323-32. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.1928.
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Discussion