This module discusses the development of sleep wake patterns from infancy through adulthood, identifies normal wake and sleep patterns, and describes changes in patterns of wake and sleep activity from infancy to old age including circadian rhythm changes related to age.  The module includes a discussion of normal sleep architecture and factors contributing to variations in normal sleep and describes normal sleep quality and quantity for adult, infant, pediatric and geriatric individuals including the role of gender, environment, and culture in sleep patterns.  The module concludes with a discussion of circadian rhythms and the role of actigraphy in evaluation of circadian rhythm disorders. 

By Rita Brooks, MEd., R. EEG/EP T., RPSGT, FAAST