Slow-Wave Sleep (Delta Sleep)
Also known as: SWS · deep sleep · delta sleep · N3 sleep · delta waves
The deepest stage of non-REM sleep, marked by large, slow delta brain waves and the day’s biggest growth-hormone pulse.
On an EEG, slow-wave sleep shows high-amplitude delta waves. It dominates the first cycles of the night, is the hardest stage to wake from, and is linked in research to growth-hormone release and memory consolidation.
Deep sleep declines sharply with age: in one study of healthy men it fell from about 19% of the night in early adulthood to about 3% by midlife.
RELATED TERMS
REM Sleep
The sleep stage with rapid eye movements, vivid dreams and muscle near-paralysis, dominating the later cycles of the night.
Circadian Rhythm
The roughly 24-hour internal clock that times sleep, hormone release and body temperature, set mainly by light.
DSIP
Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide — a nonapeptide studied for slow-wave (deep) sleep, stress resilience and circadian regulation.
Growth Hormone (GH)
The pituitary hormone driving growth, repair and metabolism; the target of secretagogue rather than direct-supply research.
Educational content, not medical advice. All products supplied for research purposes only — not for human consumption.
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