actigraphymay
Actigraphy is a non-invasive method used to estimate a person's sleep-wake patterns. It is typically conducted using a small, wrist-worn device called an actigraph. This device contains an accelerometer that detects and records movement. When the wearer is still for an extended period, it is inferred that they are asleep. Conversely, periods of activity suggest wakefulness.
The primary applications of actigraphy lie in sleep research and the clinical assessment of sleep disorders.
The data collected by an actigraph is processed by specialized software to generate a hypnogram, which is