What does polysomnography primarily measure?

Polysomnography is a comprehensive sleep study used to diagnose sleep disorders. It primarily measures a range of physiological parameters that occur throughout the sleep cycle. By assessing brain activity through electroencephalography (EEG), eye movements with electrooculography (EOG), heart rate via electrocardiogram (ECG), breathing patterns through respiratory effort measurements, and muscle activity with electromyography (EMG), polysomnography provides a detailed view of a patient's sleep architecture.

This multifaceted approach allows clinicians to identify specific sleep stages, disturbances, and abnormalities that may indicate various sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and others. It is through the combination of these measurements that practitioners can make informed diagnoses and treatment plans, making this option the most accurate representation of what polysomnography primarily measures.