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What is Sleep Inertia

By Brandon Peters, M.D., About.com

Updated: February 12, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Definition: Sleepiness and cognitive and psychomotor impairment that can occur immediately after awakening. These difficulties may persist for minutes to an hour or more after awakening. This may occur more commonly when awakening from slow-wave sleep or when sleep duration is insufficient.
Examples: This morning the grogginess caused by my sleep inertia was so bad that I decided to go back to bed.
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