The Math of Sleep Intensity

Have you ever wondered why some nights of sleep feel much more intense than others?

Scientific research shows that sleep isn’t a single, flat state; its intensity is actually

measurable through Slow Wave Activity. You can think of these slow waves as a biological

indicator of your "sleep debt". The longer you stay awake, the more these waves

dominate your brain's electrical patterns the moment you fall asleep. This is your body's

way of homeostasis—essentially trying to pay back the sleep you missed by making your rest deeper and more

restorative. Interestingly, if you take a nap, you actually "bleed off" some of this

pressure, leading to fewer slow waves during your next night of rest.