Slow-Wave Sleep (SWS), also called N3 or deep sleep, is the deepest non-REM stage. It is characterized by high-amplitude delta waves (0.5–4 Hz) and is critical for memory consolidation, tissue repair, growth hormone release, and glymphatic clearance.
Key Points
- •Delta waves — signature EEG pattern
- •Priority — the brain prioritizes SWS early in the night
- •Deprivation — SWS loss impairs cognition and recovery
- •Phase-locking — acoustic stimulation can be timed to SWS for amplification
In ONDA Life
The Phase-Locked Sleep article covers delta amplification and phase-locked acoustic protocols.