What is a Sleep Study?

An in-laboratory sleep study, or polysomnogram (PSG), is typically performed throughout a single night and records your blood oxygen levels, heart rate and respiration rate, as well as your muscle activity and eye movements. Your brain waves (electroencephalogram) are recorded as well, to monitor your sleep stages/cycles.  The measuring devices are not uncomfortable and will not restrict your ability to move around during the night. There is also a video camera in each study room, which records only your sleep study. The purpose of these cameras is to record your sleeping position during the night and determine if it impacts your sleep issues, and to record any abnormal behaviors during sleep. If the recording is unremarkable, it is deleted once your study has been scored.

Sleep studies are typically performed overnight, although for shift workers who usually sleep in the daytime, these studies are done during the day.

PSGs are considered to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of sleep disorders, but can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of any therapies on your sleep.

*For more information on what to expect and how to prepare for your sleep study, click here.