Sleep Laboratory: An In-Depth Study of Sleep’s Secrets A sleep laboratory, also known as a sleep clinic or polysomnography lab, is a specialized medical facility where sleep is studied and sleep disorders are diagnosed. It is equipped with advanced monitoring technology that records various physiological parameters during sleep, providing valuable data that cannot be obtained through home monitoring alone. During a sleep study conducted in a sleep laboratory — known as polysomnography — sensors are attached to the patient’s body to monitor brain activity (EEG), eye movements (EOG), muscle activity (EMG), heart rate (ECG), breathing patterns, oxygen levels in the blood, and body position. This comprehensive recording allows sleep specialists to analyze sleep architecture and identify abnormalities. Sleep laboratory studies are used to diagnose a wide range of sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic limb movement disorder, REM sleep behavior disorder, and other parasomnias. The data gathered during the study enables the sleep specialist to make an accurate diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan. A typical sleep study requires the patient to spend one or more nights at the laboratory. While this may seem disruptive, modern sleep labs are designed to be as comfortable and home-like as possible. Patients sleep in a private room while being monitored by trained technicians in an adjacent room. Sleep laboratory studies are generally recommended when a sleep disorder is suspected based on symptoms reported by the patient or their bed partner, and when home monitoring is insufficient to make a definitive diagnosis.