Schlaflabors

Schlaflabors are clinical or research facilities equipped to record and analyze a person’s sleep. In German usage, Schlaflabor is the singular form and Schlaflabore the plural; Schlaflabors may appear as a nonstandard plural. These labs are used to diagnose and study sleep disorders through comprehensive physiological monitoring while the patient sleeps.

The core equipment measures brain activity, eye movements, and muscle tone (polysomnography), along with heart rate, breathing, oxygen saturation, and, in some setups, carbon dioxide levels. Video recording and specialized sensors help correlate physical events with sleep stages. Some laboratories also use actigraphy, nasal airflow sensors, and esophageal pH monitoring as needed.

Typical indications for a sleep lab study include suspected obstructive or central sleep apnea, narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder, parasomnias such as sleepwalking or night terrors, restless legs syndrome with periodic limb movements, and evaluation of chronic insomnia when other assessments are inconclusive. In some cases, a sleep study guides treatment planning or monitors the effectiveness of interventions such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

Sessions are often conducted as in-lab overnight studies, with an adaptation night to mitigate the first-night effect. After data collection, technicians and physicians score sleep stages and events, and clinicians interpret results in conjunction with the patient’s history. Additional tests, such as the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) or maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT), may be performed on follow-up days to assess daytime sleepiness.

Historically, sleep laboratories have evolved from early physiological research to widespread clinical practice, with computerized scoring and standardized criteria enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Limitations include the artificial setting, discomfort for some patients, and the need for specialized interpretation to integrate results with clinical context.