https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02379-8
Review
Physiology, chronobiology and digital analysis of sleep: a tutorial review
1
Saratov State Medical University named after V. I. Razumovsky, Saratov, Russian Federation
2
Saratov State University, Saratov, Russian Federation
a
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Received:
31
January
2026
Accepted:
9
May
2026
Published online:
5
June
2026
Abstract
The relevance of this review lies in examining the known mechanisms of sleep initiation, maintenance, and termination; assessing the impact of sleep on systemic physiology; investigating the relationship between circadian rhythm regulation and sleep parameters; and exploring contemporary methods for evaluating sleep characteristics. The review presents current understandings of sleep physiology, characterizing sleep as an active, heterogeneous, and complex process that influences overall organismal physiology. Regulation of sleep–wake cycles involves central nervous system structures as well as humoral factors synthesized both in relation to sleep depth and independently of sleep processes, yet actively modulating them. Articles are cited that elucidate the interplay between sleep–wake cycles, organismal metabolic processes, and the light–dark cycle, manifested as circadian rhythms. It is demonstrated that human populations can be classified into “morning,” “evening,” and “day” chronotypes based on circadian regulation patterns. Data are compiled on associations between chronotype categories and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity features, including sex-specific variations. The article highlights modern trends toward integrating advanced technological solutions into specific research challenges, fostering the development of automated systems for analyzing sleep architecture and potential “special” sleep events using photoplethysmographic waveform data. These systems exhibit high sensitivity and specificity compared to polysomnographic studies.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
