A VISIT TO A SLEEP LAB part 1
W e arrive at the sleep lab a little before 10 p.m. and walk down a pleasant, carpeted
hallway that has several doors on either side. W e are directed to an open door
leading to a brightly lit room.
The “subject”for tonight’s study is a paid volunteer who has changed into her
pajamas and is sitting next to a small table partially covered by a clean white towel.
On this table are some rolls of medical tape, a few bottles, scissors, a toothpaste-like
tube, some gauze, a comb and hair clips, a tape measure, an electrical meter, and other
similar things. On the nearby wall hang a dozen or so long wires with disc-like
enlargements on one end and metal pins about the size o f match sticks on the other
end. The 23-year-old subject has short, black hair done in one of the latest styles. She
has bright, attentive eyes.
Also in the room i s a man in his mid 30s in a white lab coat. He is on the tall
side and slender, with a neatly trimmed dark mustache. He pleasantly turns to us and
says, “Hi. I’m Sam, the sleep lab technician. This is Joan. She will be our sleeper
tonight. Joan has been here before, so she knows what we are about to do. As I get
her ready, I will describe what I am doing and why I am doing it.”
“First we have to apply several wires to Joan’s head. They are called electrodes, but
think of them more as antennae.” As he is talking, he has us inspect one of the wires.
U p close, the disc end looks about the size and shape o f half a pea and is hollow.” This
disc is a gold plated electrode. Other types of wires have plastic ends or thick adhesive
tape with just a little silver foil embedded inside. They all work the same, but the metal
ones are easier to put on the hairy scalp, while the others work well on bare skin.”