System and method for increasing the restorative value of a nap

A method for managing a sleep session of a subject with a management system, the system comprising one or more sensory stimulators, one or more sensors, and one or more physical computer processors, the method comprising:

• generating, with the one or more sensors, output signals conveying information related to brain activity of the subject;
• determining, with the one or more physical computer processors, brain activity parameters of the subject based on the output signals, the brain activity parameters being indicative of sleep stages of the subject;
• determining, with the one or more physical computer processors, the sleep stages of the subject based on the brain activity parameters, the sleep stages including a first sleep stage, a second sleep stage that is deeper than the first sleep stage, and a third sleep stage that is deeper than the first sleep stage and the second sleep stage;
• wherein the first sleep stage includes one or more of REM sleep, NREM stage N1 sleep, or a lighter portion of NREM stage N2 sleep, the second stage includes a deeper portion of NREM stage N2 sleep, and the third sleep stage includes NREM stage N3 sleep;
• predicting, with the one or more physical computer processors, a transition from the second sleep stage to the third sleep stage based on the brain activity parameters;
• and
• controlling, with the one or more physical computer processors, the one or more sensory stimulators to:
• provide sensory stimulation to the subject responsive to the subject entering the second sleep stage from the first sleep stage;
• and
• cease providing the sensory stimulation to the subject responsive to the prediction of the transition from the second sleep stage to the third sleep stage indicating that the subject is about to enter the third sleep stage to prevent a transition to deep sleep.

A system configured to manage a sleep session of a subject, the system comprising:

• means for providing sensory stimuli to the subject during the sleep session;
• means for generating output signals conveying information related to brain activity of the subject;
• means for determining brain activity parameters of the subject based on the output signals, the brain activity parameters being indicative of sleep stages of the subject;
• means for determining the sleep stages of the subject based on the brain activity parameters, the sleep stages including a first sleep stage, a second sleep stage that is deeper than the first sleep stage, and a third sleep stage that is deeper than the first sleep stage and the second sleep stage,
• wherein the first sleep stage includes one or more of REM sleep, NREM stage N1 sleep, or a lighter portion of NREM stage N2 sleep, the second sleep stage includes a deeper portion of N2 sleep, and the third sleep stage includes NREM stage N3 sleep;
• means for predicting a transition from the second sleep stage to the third sleep stage based on the brain activity parameters;
• and
• means for controlling the means for providing sensory stimulation to:
• provide sensory stimulation to the subject responsive to the subject entering the second sleep stage from the first sleep stage;
• and
• cease providing the sensory stimulation to the subject responsive to the prediction of the transition from the second sleep stage to the third sleep stage indicating that the subject is about to enter the third sleep stage to prevent a transition to deep sleep.