REM sleep

REM sleep or Rapid Eye Movement sleep is a unique phase of sleep in mammals and birds, distinguishable by random/rapid movement of the eyes, accompanied with low muscle tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the sleeper to dream vividly.

Overview[edit | edit source]

The REM phase in sleep is the portion of sleep when there are rapid eye movements (REMs). Dreams occur during REM sleep. We typically have 3 to 5 periods of REM sleep per night. They occur at intervals of 1-2 hours and are quite variable in length. An episode of REM sleep may last 5 minutes or over an hour. About 20-25% of sleep is REM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, perhaps an hour and half of that time, 90 minutes, is REM sleep.

Physiology[edit | edit source]

REM sleep in adult humans typically occupies 20-25% of total sleep, about 90-120 minutes of a night's sleep. During a normal night of sleep, humans usually experience about four or five periods of REM sleep; they are quite short early in the night and longer toward the end. Many animals and some people tend to wake, or experience a period of very light sleep, for a few minutes after a bout of REM. The relative amount of REM sleep varies considerably with age. A newborn baby spends more than 80% of total sleep time in REM.

REM and dreams[edit | edit source]

Most memorable dreaming occurs in REM sleep. "REM sleep" is not synonymous with dreaming, but "REM sleep dreaming" is dreaming that occurs in REM sleep.

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

National Sleep Foundation - What Is REM Sleep?

REM sleep Resources
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