Sleep tracking

Sleep tracking is the process of monitoring a person's sleep, most commonly through measuring inactivity and movement.^[2] A device that tracks a person's sleep is called a sleep tracker.^[3] Sleep tracking may be beneficial in diagnosing sleep disorders.^[4] As sleep abnormalities are also symptoms of mental illness or relapsing psychotic disorders, it may also be beneficial in diagnosing mental disorders and psychotic disorders as well.^[4]

Polysomnography, the "gold standard" method for sleep tracking that requires attaching electrodes and monitors to the patient as they sleep, was developed in the late 1950s.^[5][6][7] It is considered by sleep researchers as providing the most accurate sleep data, however, it is an expensive, often uncomfortable experience for patients with findings that may be skewed due to the "first night effect".^[8][4] The actigraphy, a sleep-tracking device that is worn on one's wrist, was developed in the early 1970s and uses motion sensors.^[8][9][10] It is considered the "silver standard" method of sleep tracking, is comparably less expensive than a polysomnograph, and easier to incorporate into a patient's every day schedule as it looks and feels like a wrist-watch.^[8][11] However, it cannot track sleep-staging, is still generally expensive, and still requires a specialist to analyze the data it collects.^[4][12]

Sleep trackers are now available to consumers in many different forms such as smartphones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other wearable devices.^[2] Compared to a polysomonograph or an actigraph, consumer sleep-tracking devices are already incorporated into the day-to-day lives of patients and are the most cost-effective sleep-tracking method for patients.^[4] However, consumer sleep-tracking devices as they currently are, do not provide reliable sleep data for consumers or healthcare professionals.^[4][13] Additionally, consumer sleep tracking devices do not share their sleep tracking methods or algorithms with the public and may unintentionally undermine the sleep recommendations of health professionals or the need to seek professional help regarding improving sleep quality.^[12][14]