Overview
In this unit, you will explore the physiological processes that regulate sleep, including normal sleep architecture, circadian rhythms, and how these patterns vary across the lifespan. You will develop technical skills in interpreting and analysing polysomnographic data, as well as explore the causes, clinical presentations, diagnoses, and treatments of common sleep disorders. The unit also introduces emerging applications of telemedicine and wearable technologies in the screening and evaluation of sleep conditions.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
BMSC12007 Neurological Physiology and Measurement
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Self-reflection
Assessment items should be reviewed to ensure they adequately assess Learning outcomes.
Assessment items need to be reviewed to ensure that they align with the unit learning outcomes and provide students' with an opportunity to demonstrate their learning.
Feedback from Self-reflection
Update lecture recordings and study resources
Unit teaching materials will be reviewed to ensure that they align with industry requirements and include emerging technologies. Resources will be updated as required.
- Describe the physiological processes regulating sleep, including normal sleep architecture, circadian rhythms, and variations across the lifespan and gender.
- Discuss sleep health issues in special populations, such as First Nations People and athletes.
- Interpret and analyse sleep-staging data obtained from polysomnographic recordings.
- Discuss the causes, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of common sleep disorders.
- Discuss the role of telemedicine and emerging technologies in the screening and evaluation of sleep disorders.
- Demonstrate clear, accurate, and professional communication of sleep physiology concepts using appropriate disciplinary terminology.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Online Test - 20% | ||||||
| 2 - Presentation - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Oral Examination - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
A weekly reading list will be provided via Moodle, and resources will be available from the library.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.pullen@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 13 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Normal sleep physiology through the lifespan
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 20 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Neurobiology of sleep and the circadian rhythm
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 27 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Sleep scoring and staging
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 03 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Polysomnography and measurement of sleep
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 10 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Sleep health is special populations
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 17 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Sleep-related breathing disorders
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation week
Begin Date: 24 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 31 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Hypersomnias
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 07 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Sleep related movement disorders
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 14 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Sleep deprivation and insomnia
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 21 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Sleep and other medical disorders
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 28 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Sleep telemedicine and remote PAP Adherence monitoring
Chapter
Please refer to the e-reading list available through the Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 05 Oct 2026Module/Topic
No new content
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Oral examinations will be conducted throughout Week 12
Exam Week
Begin Date: 12 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 19 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Pre-recorded lectures in the form of "Moodle lessons" are used in this unit and will be available weekly on the Moodle site.
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit. Students are expected to access prescribed readings through the e-Reading list available on the Unit Moodle site.
All tutorials will be recorded and placed on Moodle. The tutorials will be student-led, allowing students to discuss the unit content covered to date. Please see your timetable for dates and times.
1 Online Test
This online test assesses students’ foundational knowledge of sleep physiology and the impact of sleep in special populations. The assessment will include a variety of question formats, such as multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank items, and short and extended response questions designed to evaluate both knowledge recall and applied understanding.
Students will demonstrate their ability to describe the physiological processes of regulation of sleep, including normal sleep architecture, circadian rhythms, and variations across the lifespan and gender. The test will also assess understanding of sleep health issues in special populations, such as First Nations peoples and athletes. In addition, students will be required to interpret and analyse sleep-staging data derived from polysomnographic recordings.
This assessment supports the development of foundational knowledge and analytical skills essential for understanding sleep science in both general and applied contexts.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
GenAI level 1: You must not use Generative AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
Week 5 Friday (14 Aug 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Test will open Monday of week 5 and will close Friday of week 5.
Week 7 Friday (4 Sept 2026)
Demonstrate knowledge of sleep physiology, including sleep architecture, circadian rhythms, and lifespan/gender variations.
Apply understanding to special populations, including First Nations peoples and athletes.
Interpret and analyse polysomnographic sleep data.
Provide accurate and clear responses across all question types.
Demonstrate critical thinking and integration in extended responses.
- Describe the physiological processes regulating sleep, including normal sleep architecture, circadian rhythms, and variations across the lifespan and gender.
- Discuss sleep health issues in special populations, such as First Nations People and athletes.
- Interpret and analyse sleep-staging data obtained from polysomnographic recordings.
2 Presentation
Students will develop a 10-minute recorded oral presentation analysing a provided case study. In the presentation, students will discuss the patient presentation and apply appropriate diagnostic criteria to determine the most likely sleep disorder. Students will justify their clinical reasoning and outline relevant management approaches. The presentation will also consider the role of telemedicine and emerging technologies in the screening and evaluation of sleep disorders.
Students are expected to communicate clearly and professionally, using appropriate disciplinary terminology to demonstrate their understanding of sleep physiology and clinical practice. The student must be clearly visible in the recording at all times.
GEN AI Level 3: You may use GenAI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content.
Week 9 Friday (18 Sept 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (2 Oct 2026)
Apply knowledge of sleep disorders to analyse the case, including causes, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment
Use diagnostic reasoning to identify and justify the most likely sleep disorder
Discuss telemedicine and emerging technologies in sleep disorder assessment and management
Communicate clearly and professionally, using accurate terminology and structured presentation
Demonstrate critical thinking and integration of concepts
- Discuss the causes, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of common sleep disorders.
- Discuss the role of telemedicine and emerging technologies in the screening and evaluation of sleep disorders.
- Demonstrate clear, accurate, and professional communication of sleep physiology concepts using appropriate disciplinary terminology.
3 Oral Examination
Students will complete an individual online oral examination during Week 12. The assessment consists of a 10-minute perusal period followed by a 30-minute oral examination.
Students will respond verbally to a series of questions randomly drawn from a question bank, requiring them to demonstrate integrated knowledge from across the unit. Questions will assess understanding of sleep physiology, sleep disorders, special populations, sleep data interpretation, and the role of emerging technologies in sleep health.
Students will not be permitted to use electronic devices during the examination; however, printed or handwritten notes may be used for reference. Each oral examination will be recorded for moderation and record-keeping purposes.
This assessment evaluates students’ ability to synthesise and apply knowledge, as well as communicate concepts clearly and professionally using appropriate disciplinary terminology.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
GenAI level 1: You must not use Generative AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
All oral examinations will be completed during week 12. Student will select a suitable timeslot.
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (23 Oct 2026)
Demonstrate integrated knowledge of sleep physiology, sleep disorders, and special populations
Apply and analyse concepts, including interpretation of polysomnographic data
Discuss diagnostic and management approaches for common sleep disorders
Explain the role of telemedicine and emerging technologies in sleep health
Communicate clearly and professionally, using accurate terminology and structured verbal responses
No submission method provided.
- Describe the physiological processes regulating sleep, including normal sleep architecture, circadian rhythms, and variations across the lifespan and gender.
- Discuss sleep health issues in special populations, such as First Nations People and athletes.
- Interpret and analyse sleep-staging data obtained from polysomnographic recordings.
- Discuss the causes, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of common sleep disorders.
- Discuss the role of telemedicine and emerging technologies in the screening and evaluation of sleep disorders.
- Demonstrate clear, accurate, and professional communication of sleep physiology concepts using appropriate disciplinary terminology.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
