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During which stage of the sleep cycle are K-complexes and sleep spindles found?

  1. Stage 1 sleep

  2. Stage 2 sleep

  3. Stage 3 sleep

  4. REM sleep

The correct answer is: Stage 2 sleep

K-complexes and sleep spindles are unique brain wave patterns that are predominantly observed during Stage 2 sleep. K-complexes are sudden bursts of brain activity that are believed to play a role in inhibiting cortical arousal and are thought to be responses to external stimuli. Sleep spindles, which are short bursts of oscillatory brain activity, are associated with memory consolidation and the processing of information during sleep. Stage 2 sleep is characterized by the presence of these features and represents a deeper sleep stage compared to Stage 1. This stage is critical for restorative processes and forms part of the overall architecture of the sleep cycle. The correct identification of the sleep stage where these elements occur is important in understanding sleep's function in cognitive processes and overall health.