Certified Polysomnographic Technician (CPSGT) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CPSGT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Actigraphy primarily evaluates movement patterns during sleep. This method utilizes a wrist-worn device that records the movements of the individual over a period of time, usually days to weeks. By analyzing these movements, actigraphy can provide valuable information about sleep-wake patterns, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency.

Movements are indicative of sleep states and disturbances; for instance, increased activity might suggest wakefulness, while decreased activity suggests sleep. This approach is particularly useful in clinical settings where continuous monitoring of sleep is impractical, allowing for an objective assessment of sleep behavior in a natural environment.

In contrast, aspects such as sleep spindles, respiratory events, and brain wave activity are evaluated through more direct measures such as polysomnography, which provides comprehensive data from EEG, EOG, and EMG. Therefore, the focus of actigraphy on movement patterns distinguishes it from these other parameters.