How long does a typical sleep cycle last?

A typical sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes. During this cycle, an individual progresses through various stages of sleep, including both non-REM (rapid eye movement) and REM sleep. The cycle begins with lighter stages of sleep and moves into deeper stages before alternating into REM sleep, which is crucial for cognitive functions, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation.

Each 90-minute cycle can repeat multiple times throughout the night, typically resulting in four to six complete cycles during an average night’s sleep, depending on the total duration of sleep. This understanding helps emphasize the importance of obtaining sufficient sleep each night to allow for multiple cycles, thereby supporting overall health and well-being.

While the other options suggest durations that are longer or shorter than the typical sleep cycle, they do not accurately reflect the structured way that sleep progresses through its various stages in an average adult.