# Sleep staging guides

> Plain-language, sourced guides for sleep technologists, lab managers and researchers: how sleep staging works, how AI-assisted scoring fits into review, what the YASA algorithm does, and how to evaluate staging software and where it processes data.

- [What is sleep staging?](https://inepoch.com/learn/what-is-sleep-staging): Sleep staging splits a sleep recording into 30-second epochs labelled Wake, N1, N2, N3 or REM. How it works, which signals are used, what a hypnogram shows.
- [AI-assisted sleep scoring: how it works and where people fit](https://inepoch.com/learn/ai-assisted-sleep-scoring): How AI sleep-staging software proposes a stage for every 30-second epoch, where algorithms go wrong, how autoscoring is certified, and what reviewers do.
- [YASA sleep staging explained: inputs, accuracy and limits](https://inepoch.com/learn/yasa-sleep-staging): What the open-source YASA sleep-staging algorithm needs, how it was trained and tested, what its authors report about accuracy, and its known limitations.
- [Local vs cloud sleep scoring: where study data is processed](https://inepoch.com/learn/local-vs-cloud-sleep-scoring): Local sleep-scoring software analyses recordings on your workstation; cloud services use a vendor's servers. Compare data flow, IT duties and what to ask.
- [How to evaluate sleep staging software: a checklist for sleep labs](https://inepoch.com/learn/sleep-staging-software-checklist): A checklist for sleep labs comparing sleep-staging or autoscoring software: validation, certification, review tools, data handling, formats and support.
- [Sleep staging glossary](https://inepoch.com/learn/sleep-staging-glossary): Plain-language definitions of sleep staging terms: epoch, hypnogram, PSG, EEG, EOG, EMG, EDF, N1, N2, N3, REM, spindles, K-complexes, TST, WASO and more.