Oregon Polysomnographic Technologist
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
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Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant Download
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1. Which physiological process is primarily evaluated during
polysomnography?
A. Renal filtration during sleep
B. Sleep architecture and cardiorespiratory function during sleep
C. Hepatic metabolism during exercise
D. Musculoskeletal strength during wakefulness
B. Sleep architecture and cardiorespiratory function during sleep
Polysomnography evaluates sleep architecture together with physiological
variables such as brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity,
respiratory effort, airflow, oxygenation, and cardiac activity.
2. Which electrode montage is primarily used to identify stages of sleep
through measurement of cortical electrical activity?
A. Electroencephalography
B. Electrocardiography
C. Electromyography only
D. Electrooculography only
,A. Electroencephalography
EEG records cerebral electrical activity and provides the principal
electrophysiologic information used to distinguish wakefulness and the
various stages of sleep.
3. Which combination of signals is most important for distinguishing REM
sleep from non-REM sleep?
A. EEG, EOG, and chin EMG
B. ECG, blood pressure, and temperature only
C. Nasal pressure and pulse oximetry only
D. Respiratory effort and body position only
A. EEG, EOG, and chin EMG
The combination of EEG, EOG, and chin EMG allows the technologist to
evaluate cortical activity, rapid eye movements, and muscle tone, which
are central to sleep-stage scoring.
4. Which characteristic is most typical of normal REM sleep?
A. High-amplitude delta activity throughout the epoch
B. Prominent skeletal muscle atonia with rapid eye movements
C. Absence of eye movements
D. Continuous tonic chin muscle activity
B. Prominent skeletal muscle atonia with rapid eye movements
REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movements, relatively low-
amplitude mixed-frequency EEG activity, and marked skeletal muscle
atonia.
5. Which EEG characteristic is most strongly associated with N3 sleep?
A. Predominance of delta activity
B. Continuous alpha activity
,C. Sawtooth waves only
D. Complete absence of EEG activity
A. Predominance of delta activity
N3 is deep non-REM sleep characterized by substantial slow-wave or delta
activity in the EEG.
6. During relaxed wakefulness with eyes closed, which EEG rhythm is
commonly prominent in an awake adult?
A. Alpha rhythm
B. Delta rhythm exclusively
C. Sigma rhythm exclusively
D. Sawtooth rhythm exclusively
A. Alpha rhythm
An alpha rhythm, typically in the approximately 8–13 Hz range, is
commonly observed in relaxed wakefulness with the eyes closed,
particularly over posterior regions.
7. Sleep spindles are characteristic features of which sleep stage?
A. N1
B. N2
C. N3
D. REM
B. N2
Sleep spindles are one of the defining features used to identify N2 sleep,
along with K complexes.
8. Which waveform is also a defining feature used to score N2 sleep?
A. K complex
B. Sawtooth wave exclusively
, C. Alpha intrusion only
D. Continuous REM burst
A. K complex
A K complex is a prominent EEG waveform that, when meeting scoring
criteria and not representing an arousal or artifact, supports identification
of N2 sleep.
9. Which finding is most consistent with N1 sleep?
A. Transition from wakefulness with low-amplitude mixed-frequency EEG
activity
B. Sustained high-amplitude delta activity throughout the epoch
C. Complete skeletal muscle paralysis with rapid eye movements
D. Persistent wake alpha rhythm without transition
A. Transition from wakefulness with low-amplitude mixed-frequency EEG
activity
N1 represents the transition from wakefulness into sleep and is
characterized by low-amplitude mixed-frequency activity, with slow rolling
eye movements often providing additional evidence.
10. Which eye movement pattern is commonly associated with N1
sleep?
A. Slow rolling eye movements
B. Continuous rapid eye movements throughout the entire stage
C. Complete absence of eye movements in all patients
D. Periodic forced eyelid closure only
A. Slow rolling eye movements
Slow rolling eye movements commonly occur during the transition from
wakefulness into N1 sleep.
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant Download
Pdf.
1. Which physiological process is primarily evaluated during
polysomnography?
A. Renal filtration during sleep
B. Sleep architecture and cardiorespiratory function during sleep
C. Hepatic metabolism during exercise
D. Musculoskeletal strength during wakefulness
B. Sleep architecture and cardiorespiratory function during sleep
Polysomnography evaluates sleep architecture together with physiological
variables such as brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity,
respiratory effort, airflow, oxygenation, and cardiac activity.
2. Which electrode montage is primarily used to identify stages of sleep
through measurement of cortical electrical activity?
A. Electroencephalography
B. Electrocardiography
C. Electromyography only
D. Electrooculography only
,A. Electroencephalography
EEG records cerebral electrical activity and provides the principal
electrophysiologic information used to distinguish wakefulness and the
various stages of sleep.
3. Which combination of signals is most important for distinguishing REM
sleep from non-REM sleep?
A. EEG, EOG, and chin EMG
B. ECG, blood pressure, and temperature only
C. Nasal pressure and pulse oximetry only
D. Respiratory effort and body position only
A. EEG, EOG, and chin EMG
The combination of EEG, EOG, and chin EMG allows the technologist to
evaluate cortical activity, rapid eye movements, and muscle tone, which
are central to sleep-stage scoring.
4. Which characteristic is most typical of normal REM sleep?
A. High-amplitude delta activity throughout the epoch
B. Prominent skeletal muscle atonia with rapid eye movements
C. Absence of eye movements
D. Continuous tonic chin muscle activity
B. Prominent skeletal muscle atonia with rapid eye movements
REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movements, relatively low-
amplitude mixed-frequency EEG activity, and marked skeletal muscle
atonia.
5. Which EEG characteristic is most strongly associated with N3 sleep?
A. Predominance of delta activity
B. Continuous alpha activity
,C. Sawtooth waves only
D. Complete absence of EEG activity
A. Predominance of delta activity
N3 is deep non-REM sleep characterized by substantial slow-wave or delta
activity in the EEG.
6. During relaxed wakefulness with eyes closed, which EEG rhythm is
commonly prominent in an awake adult?
A. Alpha rhythm
B. Delta rhythm exclusively
C. Sigma rhythm exclusively
D. Sawtooth rhythm exclusively
A. Alpha rhythm
An alpha rhythm, typically in the approximately 8–13 Hz range, is
commonly observed in relaxed wakefulness with the eyes closed,
particularly over posterior regions.
7. Sleep spindles are characteristic features of which sleep stage?
A. N1
B. N2
C. N3
D. REM
B. N2
Sleep spindles are one of the defining features used to identify N2 sleep,
along with K complexes.
8. Which waveform is also a defining feature used to score N2 sleep?
A. K complex
B. Sawtooth wave exclusively
, C. Alpha intrusion only
D. Continuous REM burst
A. K complex
A K complex is a prominent EEG waveform that, when meeting scoring
criteria and not representing an arousal or artifact, supports identification
of N2 sleep.
9. Which finding is most consistent with N1 sleep?
A. Transition from wakefulness with low-amplitude mixed-frequency EEG
activity
B. Sustained high-amplitude delta activity throughout the epoch
C. Complete skeletal muscle paralysis with rapid eye movements
D. Persistent wake alpha rhythm without transition
A. Transition from wakefulness with low-amplitude mixed-frequency EEG
activity
N1 represents the transition from wakefulness into sleep and is
characterized by low-amplitude mixed-frequency activity, with slow rolling
eye movements often providing additional evidence.
10. Which eye movement pattern is commonly associated with N1
sleep?
A. Slow rolling eye movements
B. Continuous rapid eye movements throughout the entire stage
C. Complete absence of eye movements in all patients
D. Periodic forced eyelid closure only
A. Slow rolling eye movements
Slow rolling eye movements commonly occur during the transition from
wakefulness into N1 sleep.
