Topic: micro-states

Vigilance states are conventionally divided into wake, slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye-movement (REM) sleep based on distinct patterns of neural activity and muscle tone. These states are traditionally thought to be global. However, there is growing evidence for a departure from a simple model of three basic states. Sleep and wake may be more continuous rather than discrete states. Short periods of wake-like activity in sleep and vice versa can occur regularly. This diversity of state expression is further complicated by evidence of local sleep across the brain. To account for the complexi