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Sleep spindles are waves of brain activity that occur during stage 2 sleep, blocking out external noise and resulting in healthier sleep. They are caused by activity in the thalamus and may be the key to sound sleep. A higher frequency of sleep spindles equates to better sleep, and efforts to create them artificially could be a game-changing breakthrough for insomniacs and light sleepers.
Sleep spindles are waves of brain activity during sleep as seen on an electroencephalogram (EEG). They are also known as sigma bands or waves. These spindles are most evident during stage 2 sleep, occurring in bursts that last for about a second. Stage 2 is one of the deepest stages of sleep, as opposed to the lighter stages where individuals are still relatively aware of their external environment. Studies have shown that sleep spindles can help block out outside noise, resulting in healthier sleep.
Sleep spindles occur during stage 2 sleep, along with K complexes. K complexes look different than the wavy patterns of the spindles, which appear on EEGs as dramatic spikes. Spindles are caused by activity in the thalamus. It is suspected that when spindles occur, the thalamus is attempting to block brain signals, elicited by external stimuli such as the sound of a baby crying, from reaching other areas of the brain that could disrupt sleep. Spindles begin appearing in sleep around the first six to eight weeks of life, after which they remain with the sleeper for life. Since stage 2 sleep comprises about half of a person’s sleep, spindles are an important part of our sleep pattern.
These spindles may be the key to sound sleep. A study conducted by the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School in the United States showed that individuals with a higher frequency of time sleepers slept more soundly. Sleepers were subjected to a barrage of noises that commonly interrupt sleep: traffic noise, phones ringing, toilet flushing, etc. The study found that those who showed more spindles were able to sleep better through noise, while those with fewer spindles slept less soundly. The study data led to the conclusion that spindles may be the brain’s way of deflecting noise and distractions during sleep.
If further studies show that sleep spindles actually equate to better sleep, it would help explain a lot about the way we sleep. It would explain why one person sleeps easily in even the most disruptive conditions and why others are woken up by the slightest noise. Such a discovery could even change the way we sleep; there may be efforts to attempt to create these spindles artificially. If such efforts are successful, they could be a game-changing breakthrough for sleepers around the world. In particular, insomniacs and light sleepers would make the most, perhaps able to finally settle in for a full night of deep sleep.
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