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Does your sleep tracker get it right? A Pittsburgh neuroscientist weighs in

<name>J. David Creswell, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Carnegie Mellon University</name> <foaf:homepage rdf:resource="https://theconversation.com/profiles/j-david-creswell-2372977"/>· 6 octobre 2026

A growing share of people wear a tracking device to bed, hoping it can tell them something about how they slept. andreswd/E+ Collection via Getty Images On a typical night, I go to bed wearing a tracking watch on one wrist and another type of tracker on the other wrist. Then I compare their sleep f…

Résumé

Sleep trackers basics

Sleep trackers are wearable devices, like smartwatches, that monitor sleep by measuring heart rate, movement, and skin temperature.

They estimate how long you slept and sometimes which sleep stage you were in, such as light, deep, or REM sleep.

These devices do not directly measure brain activity like medical-grade equipment does.

Instead, they rely on algorithms that interpret patterns in heart rate variability and movement to guess sleep stages.

For example, REM sleep, the stage associated with dreaming, has a distinct cardiovascular profile that trackers attempt to recognize.

While these devices are convenient for daily use, their accuracy depends on the quality of their sensors and software, which can vary significantly between brands and models.

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