Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

slow-wave sleep

American  
[sloh-wayv sleep] / ˈsloʊˈweɪv ˈslip /

noun

Physiology.
  1. a recurrent period of deep sleep, typically totaling five or six hours a night, distinguished by the presence of slow brain waves and by very little dreaming. SWS


Etymology

Origin of slow-wave sleep

First recorded in 1965–70; slow ( def. ) + wave ( def. )


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"However, to date we have been unsure of the role of slow-wave sleep in the development of dementia. Our findings suggest that slow wave sleep loss may be a modifiable dementia risk factor."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2023

For example, electrical synapses in the thalamus are thought to regulate slow-wave sleep, and disruption of these synapses can cause seizures.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

These sleep spindles often co-occur with slow-wave sleep, a particular frequency of slowly oscillating EEG activity.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 5, 2022

They also spent 23 percent of their time in slow-wave sleep, which is the deepest kind of non-REM sleep.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2021

Those awakened from slow-wave sleep are groggy and disoriented.

From New York Times ● Jun. 7, 2018

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com