Embracing sleep-onset complexity.
Trends in Neurosciences April 1, 2024 Célia Lacaux, Mélanie Strauss, Tristan A Bekinschtein et al.
The sleep-onset period (SOP), the transition from wakefulness to sleep, has been largely overlooked despite its potential importance. This review synthesizes current knowledge about the SOP in humans, examining its definition and limits, the dynamic electrophysiological changes that accompany falling asleep, and the interplay between internal and external processing during this transition. The authors propose that the SOP may offer cognitive benefits and identify novel directions for better diagnosing sleep-onset disorders. The review highlights recent findings that have reignited interest in this transitional period, shedding light on its neural mechanisms, cognitive dynamics, and clinical implications.