What is the primary function of actigraphy?

Actigraphy primarily serves the function of recording movements to determine sleep-wake patterns. It is a non-invasive method used to assess sleep and activity levels, often through a wrist-worn device that detects movement via accelerometry. This collected data helps identify periods of sleep and wakefulness, making actigraphy an effective tool for evaluating sleep disorders and assessing overall sleep quality.

While other methods like electrocardiography are used to measure heart rate variability, pulse oximeters are employed to monitor blood oxygen levels, and spirometry or similar methodologies analyze respiratory function, these functions do not align with the core purpose of actigraphy. Actigraphy focuses specifically on physical activity and sleep-wake cycles, making it especially useful in the context of sleep studies.