sleep-wake cycle

^[1]^[2]^[3]

Introduction

daily rhythm of alternating sleep & wakefulness governed by 2 interacting processes:
- the circadian system (an internal clock)
- the homeostatic sleep drive (pressure to sleep that accumulates during wakefulness & dissipates during sleep)

↑ Meyer N, Harvey AG, Lockley SW, Dijk DJ. Circadian rhythms and disorders of the timing of sleep. Lancet. 2022 Sep 24;400(10357):1061-1078. PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36115370 Review.
↑ Allada R, Bass J. Circadian Mechanisms in Medicine. N Engl J Med. 2021 Feb 11;384(6):550-561. PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33567194 PMCID: PMC8108270 Free PMC article. Review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8108270/
↑ Cavailles C, Danilevicz IM, Vidil S, et al Digital Sleep-Wake Cycle Metrics and Dementia Prediction in Older Adults. JAMA Neurol. 2026 May 18. PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42149581