Polysomnography

Polysomnography is the multi-parametric test to study sleep. The name is derived from the many (Poly), sleep (somno) graphings (graphy). http://www.chclibrary.org/micromed/00061380.html Originally developed by Nathaniel Kleitman, and graduate students at the University of Chicago in the 1950's, it has since been codified by the adoption in 1968 of "A Manual of Standardized Terminology, Techniques, and Scoring Systems for Sleep Stages of Human Subjects, Ed. Allen Rechtschaeffen and Anthony Kales. An online version can be found here, sans graphics. http://www.aptweb.org/reference/r_k.asp http://www.sleepstudy.org/review/sleepEEG.htm

The test entails the simultaneous recording of brain waves (EEG), eye movements (EOG), skeletal muscle activiation (EMG), and heart rhythm (ECG). In the 1970's respiratory airflow and respiratory effort indicators were added along with peripheral pulse oximetry, when the identification of the sleep disorder, Sleep Apnea occured.

To find out more go to:

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine http://www.aasmnet.org

The Association of Polysomnographic Technologists http://www.aptweb.org

The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists http://www.brpt.org