Sömncirklarna

Sömncirklarna, translates to 'the sleep circles', is a Swedish term used in several contexts to describe phenomena related to sleep. The phrase is not a single scientific label; its meaning depends on the source. Etymologically it combines sömn meaning sleep and cirklarna meaning the circles, invoking an image of recurring patterns or round groupings around sleep.

In science, the term is not commonly used as a formal category. Some writers use it metaphorically to describe patterns within a night's sleep—such as cycles of REM and non-REM sleep that repeat in a roughly circular sequence—while professional literature typically uses terms like sleep architecture or circadian rhythm.

In cultural and popular contexts, sömncirklarna may refer to social or interpretive practices centered on dreams and sleep. This can include dream circles, where participants share dreams or practice lucid dreaming, or online communities discussing sleep routines, insomnia coping, and dream interpretation. The term thus functions more as a descriptive label in media and conversation than as a strict technical concept.

Related topics include sleep cycle, circadian rhythm, lucid dreaming, and dream circles.