Which condition involves brief periods of breathing cessation during sleep?

Sleep apnea is characterized by brief periods of breathing cessation during sleep, which can lead to fragmented sleep and decreased oxygen levels in the bloodstream. This condition can occur multiple times throughout the night and often results in the individual waking up gasping for air or feeling fatigued upon waking due to disrupted sleep patterns.

It can manifest in two primary forms: obstructive sleep apnea, where the throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway, and central sleep apnea, which occurs when the brain fails to send the correct signals to the muscles that control breathing. These interruptions in breathing can significantly impact both physical health and quality of life, contributing to issues such as daytime sleepiness, cardiovascular problems, and cognitive impairments.

In contrast, hypersomnia refers to excessive daytime sleepiness, circadian rhythm sleep disorders involve misalignment between an individual's sleep-wake cycle and their environment, and night terrors are episodes of sudden arousal and intense fear during sleep, usually occurring in non-REM sleep, without the cessation of breathing. Thus, sleep apnea specifically involves the critical feature of breathing cessation during sleep, making it the correct answer.