Which stages of sleep frequently increase the incidence of spikes in a patient?

The incidence of spikes in a patient's EEG is most commonly associated with specific stages of sleep, particularly Stage 1 and Stage 2. During these stages, the brain exhibits characteristic patterns, including sleep spindles and vertex waves, which can create a conducive environment for the emergence of spikes. These features are important in the context of various sleep disorders, including epilepsy, where spikes may indicate abnormal electrical activity.

Stage 1 is often considered the transition from wakefulness to sleep, and during this phase, there is a decrease in muscle tone and a shift in brain activity. Stage 2 follows, and it is more stable and indicates deeper sleep, but still has a relatively active brain state compared to the deeper stages of sleep. The presence of these spikes can indicate an underlying condition or can be part of normal sleep architecture depending on the context of the individual's health.

In contrast, other sleep stages like REM (Rapid Eye Movement) or the deeper stages such as Stage 3 and Stage 4 are characterized by different EEG patterns and variations in brain activity, which may not increase spikes or may present them differently. Therefore, the unique features of Stage 1 and Stage 2 make them particularly relevant to the observation of spikes in EEG readings.