A portable polysomnography apparatus comprises a unitary flexible structured pillow that is embedded with one or more sensors for data collection. The one or more sensors can comprise a tilt sensor that is configured to generate respiratory effort signals based on tilting of the head of the subject on the pillow. The one or more sensors can further be configured to generate ballistocardiogram signals from movement of the head of the subject caused by beating of the heart of the subject. The polysomnography apparatus can be advantageously sized and shaped to cause the sleeping subject to properly orient her head with respect to the sensors for optimal data collection while the subject is asleep.