Wakeups

Wakeups refer to the process or events that bring a person or device out of a state of sleep or inactivity. In humans, wakeups occur when the brain transitions from sleep to wakefulness, often aligned with circadian rhythms and external cues such as light. Most adults experience several wakeups during the night, with the final awakening typically leading to rising for the day. Awakenings are more likely to occur during lighter stages of sleep, including N1 of non-REM sleep and REM sleep, rather than during deep slow-wave sleep.

External triggers include alarms and scheduled routines, as well as environmental stimuli such as daylight, noise, or changes in temperature. Individual wakeup patterns are influenced by chronotype, age, and lifestyle, and can be affected by sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea.

A phenomenon associated with waking is sleep inertia, the period of grogginess and reduced performance that can follow awakening, usually dissipating within a short time but sometimes longer.

In computing and electronics, wakeups refer to events or signals that bring a device or software from sleep, suspend, or idle states to active operation. Examples include scheduled wake timers, wake-on-LAN, and interrupt-driven wakeups for background tasks.