Which condition involves stopping breathing for brief periods during sleep?

Sleep apnea is the condition characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep, which can occur multiple times throughout the night. These pauses in breathing can last from a few seconds to minutes and can lead to fragmented sleep and decreased oxygen levels. Individuals with sleep apnea often experience snoring, gasping, or choking sounds during sleep, which can disrupt normal sleep cycles and result in excessive daytime sleepiness.

In contrast, narcolepsy involves sudden and uncontrollable episodes of sleep during the day, but does not specifically pertain to breathing disruptions. Dream recall refers to the ability to remember dreams after waking, and hypersomnia is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness but doesn't involve the cessation of breathing during sleep. Therefore, sleep apnea stands out because it is specifically related to the interruption of breathing while sleeping, making it the correct answer.