Which condition is marked by intermittent pauses in breathing during sleep?

The condition characterized by intermittent pauses in breathing during sleep is sleep apnea. This disorder disrupts normal sleep patterns by causing the individual to momentarily stop breathing, often resulting in brief awakenings throughout the night. These interruptions can lead to fragmented sleep, making it difficult for individuals to reach deeper, restorative stages of sleep.

Sleep apnea has significant health implications, including increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, daytime fatigue, and cognitive impairments. It can be classified into different types, primarily obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when the throat muscles relax excessively during sleep, and central sleep apnea, which involves a failure of the brain to send appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing.

In contrast, other options such as amnesia, insomnia, and narcolepsy do not involve the specific pattern of breathing disruptions described. Amnesia relates to memory loss, insomnia refers to difficulty falling or staying asleep, and narcolepsy involves excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks, but none of these conditions include the breathing pauses characteristic of sleep apnea.