AASM Sleep Staging Rules For Adults questions with
verified answers
Stage W Ans✓✓-wakefulness
Stage N1 Ans✓✓-NREM 1
stage 2 ` Ans✓✓-NREM 2
stage N3 Ans✓✓-NREM 3
stage R Ans✓✓-REM
List the parameters in which Epochs should be scored Ans✓✓-score sleep stages
in 30 second, sequential epochs commencing at the start of the study and assign a
stage to each epoch
what should be done if two or more stages coexist during a single epoch?
Ans✓✓-if two or more stages coexist during a single epoch, assign the stage
comprising the greatest portion of the epoch
What should be done when three or more segments of an epoch meet criteria for
different stages of sleep? Ans✓✓-when this occurs, score the epoch as sleep if
the majority of it meets criteria for Stage N1, N2, N3, or R and assign the sleep
stage that occurs for the majority of the sleep within the epoch
,Slow wave activity: Ans✓✓-frequency of 0.5 - 2.0 Hz and peak-to-peak amplitude
of greater than 75 microvolts, measured over the frontal regions
Delta waves: Ans✓✓-0 - 3.99 Hz
Theta waves: Ans✓✓-4- 7.99 Hz
Alpha waves: Ans✓✓-8-13 Hz
Beta waves: Ans✓✓-13 Hz
Alpha Rhythm (posterior dominant rhythm in adults and older children): Ans✓✓-
an EEG pattern consisting of trains of sinusoidal 8-13 Hz activity recorded over the
occipital region with eye closure and attenuating with eye opening
Eye blinks: Ans✓✓-conjugate vertical eye movements at a frequency of 0.5 - 2.0
Hz present in wakefulness with the eyes open or closed
reading eye movements: Ans✓✓-trains of conjugate eye movements consisting
of a slow phase followed by a rapid phase in the opposite direction as the
individual reads
Rapid Eye movements (REMs): Ans✓✓-eye movements recorded int he EOG
derivations consisting of conjugate, irregular, sharply peaked eye movements
with an initial deflection usually lasting less than 500 milliseconds
, while these are characteristic of stage R sleep, they may also be seen in
wakefulness with eyes open when individuals visually scan the environment
Slow eye movements (SEM): Ans✓✓-Conjugate, reasonably regular, sinusoidal
eye movements with an initial deflection that usually lasts more than 500
milliseconds
When can SEMs be seen? Ans✓✓-these may be seen during eyes closed wake
and stage N1
When do you score epochs as stage W? Ans✓✓-these are scored as such when
50% of the epoch contains either alpha rhythm and/or eye blinks, rapid eye
movements (associated with normal or high chin muscle tone) and reading eye
movements
Describe alpha rhythm (posterior dominant rhythm): Ans✓✓-this emanates from
over the occipital region (individuals generating alpha rhythm with eye closure)
List some findings consistent with stage W outside of alpha rhythm: Ans✓✓-eye
blinks (0.5 - 2.0 Hz), rapid eye movements associated with normal or high chin
muscle tone and reading eye movements
How does one refer to REM when scoring and writing notes on it? Ans✓✓-when
referring to scoring, use the term "stage R" and when referring to the
physiological state, use the term "REM sleep" (e.g. REM sleep behaviour disorder)
What does stage W represent? Ans✓✓-this represents the waking state, ranging
from full alertness through early stages of drowsiness.
verified answers
Stage W Ans✓✓-wakefulness
Stage N1 Ans✓✓-NREM 1
stage 2 ` Ans✓✓-NREM 2
stage N3 Ans✓✓-NREM 3
stage R Ans✓✓-REM
List the parameters in which Epochs should be scored Ans✓✓-score sleep stages
in 30 second, sequential epochs commencing at the start of the study and assign a
stage to each epoch
what should be done if two or more stages coexist during a single epoch?
Ans✓✓-if two or more stages coexist during a single epoch, assign the stage
comprising the greatest portion of the epoch
What should be done when three or more segments of an epoch meet criteria for
different stages of sleep? Ans✓✓-when this occurs, score the epoch as sleep if
the majority of it meets criteria for Stage N1, N2, N3, or R and assign the sleep
stage that occurs for the majority of the sleep within the epoch
,Slow wave activity: Ans✓✓-frequency of 0.5 - 2.0 Hz and peak-to-peak amplitude
of greater than 75 microvolts, measured over the frontal regions
Delta waves: Ans✓✓-0 - 3.99 Hz
Theta waves: Ans✓✓-4- 7.99 Hz
Alpha waves: Ans✓✓-8-13 Hz
Beta waves: Ans✓✓-13 Hz
Alpha Rhythm (posterior dominant rhythm in adults and older children): Ans✓✓-
an EEG pattern consisting of trains of sinusoidal 8-13 Hz activity recorded over the
occipital region with eye closure and attenuating with eye opening
Eye blinks: Ans✓✓-conjugate vertical eye movements at a frequency of 0.5 - 2.0
Hz present in wakefulness with the eyes open or closed
reading eye movements: Ans✓✓-trains of conjugate eye movements consisting
of a slow phase followed by a rapid phase in the opposite direction as the
individual reads
Rapid Eye movements (REMs): Ans✓✓-eye movements recorded int he EOG
derivations consisting of conjugate, irregular, sharply peaked eye movements
with an initial deflection usually lasting less than 500 milliseconds
, while these are characteristic of stage R sleep, they may also be seen in
wakefulness with eyes open when individuals visually scan the environment
Slow eye movements (SEM): Ans✓✓-Conjugate, reasonably regular, sinusoidal
eye movements with an initial deflection that usually lasts more than 500
milliseconds
When can SEMs be seen? Ans✓✓-these may be seen during eyes closed wake
and stage N1
When do you score epochs as stage W? Ans✓✓-these are scored as such when
50% of the epoch contains either alpha rhythm and/or eye blinks, rapid eye
movements (associated with normal or high chin muscle tone) and reading eye
movements
Describe alpha rhythm (posterior dominant rhythm): Ans✓✓-this emanates from
over the occipital region (individuals generating alpha rhythm with eye closure)
List some findings consistent with stage W outside of alpha rhythm: Ans✓✓-eye
blinks (0.5 - 2.0 Hz), rapid eye movements associated with normal or high chin
muscle tone and reading eye movements
How does one refer to REM when scoring and writing notes on it? Ans✓✓-when
referring to scoring, use the term "stage R" and when referring to the
physiological state, use the term "REM sleep" (e.g. REM sleep behaviour disorder)
What does stage W represent? Ans✓✓-this represents the waking state, ranging
from full alertness through early stages of drowsiness.
