What are sleep spindles characterized by?

Sleep spindles are characterized by high frequency bursts of brain waves that typically occur during non-REM sleep, particularly during stage 2 sleep. These bursts represent a specific pattern of neural oscillatory activity and are associated with processes such as memory consolidation and information processing.

The presence of these rapid bursts of activity distinguishes sleep spindles from other wave forms observed during sleep, such as delta waves, which are lower in frequency and associated with deeper sleep stages. The high frequency of the spindles, typically ranging from about 12 to 16 Hz, is critical for their identification and significance in sleep research.

This distinct pattern is why the response regarding high frequency bursts of waves is the most accurate choice when considering the defining characteristics of sleep spindles.