The History of Polysomnography

Similar to the first anatomists or the first radiographers, sleep scientists and physicians used electroencephalography and later polysomnography as means of “peering in” to the workings of the human body with the hope of gaining understanding. The rapid advancement of sleep research, made possible by the development of polysomnography, permitted not only a deeper understanding of normal sleep, but a more complete picture of the pathologic processes that affect sleep. After 20 years, not only has polysomnography been fine-tuned as a research tool and vital diagnostic test, but it has also made possible the creation of a new medical specialty and a new allied health field.