Frequently Asked Questions
How do you expect me to sleep with all those wires in a strange environment?
The wires are not uncomfortable or painful and the rooms are private. We do not expect you to fall asleep immediately upon arrival, but most people begin to feel sleepy about the same time they do at home. If you are unable to fall asleep within 30-60 minutes after lights-out, we may offer a mild, short-acting sleeping pill if you wish (this pill will NOT alter your sleep study results, it simply helps you fall asleep so we can monitor as much sleep as possible).

What if I go to the bathroom several times during the night?
Your technician will temporarily pause your study and escort you to the restroom. All your wires are connected into a small portable recording box that can be taken with you to the restroom as many times as you need.

What if I have a good/bad night?
Everyone has good and bad nights, however, we are usually able to obtain enough information about your sleep in less than 6 hours, and in some instances, within 2 hours. Your physical sleep activities being monitored do not vary from night to night, which enables us to accurately evaluate your sleep on any given night. On a rare occasion we have to repeat a study if there is not enough sleep to give us the information we need.

Why sleep at night?
The pattern of sleeping at night and being awake during the day feels natural because it is natural. The area of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) houses the well-known circadian 'biological clock.' The SCN responds to light stimuli, so the lack of light at night triggers sleepiness. The light of day wakes up the SCN -- and thus the biological clock. The biological clock times important body functions such as the release of hormones, the lowering of blood pressure, and the consolidation of memory to coincide with nighttime sleep. Defying the body's natural circadian rhythm can result in sleepiness and poor performance.

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