Rapid eye movement sleep

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep
[[File:Sleep EEG REM.png		thumb|Sleep EEG REM]]
Sleep EEG REM
Synonyms	REM sleep
Usual onset	During sleep cycles
Causes	Normal part of the sleep cycle
Risk factors	Sleep disorders
Diagnosis	Polysomnography
Treatment	Depends on underlying conditions affecting sleep
Prognosis	Normal part of healthy sleep

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a unique phase of the sleep cycle characterized by rapid movement of the eyes, increased brain activity, dreaming, and temporary muscle paralysis.

Overview

REM sleep is one of the two basic states of sleep, the other being non-REM (NREM) sleep, which is further divided into stages 1-3. During a normal night's sleep, an individual will cycle through these stages multiple times, with REM sleep periods generally becoming longer as the night progresses.

Characteristics

Some of the key characteristics of REM sleep include:

• Rapid Eye Movements: This is the most distinguishing feature, from which the phase gets its name. The eyes move rapidly in various directions, though the reasons for these movements are not entirely understood.
• Increased Brain Activity: Brain activity during REM sleep is similar to that during wakefulness, and this is the period when most dreaming occurs.
• Muscle Atonia: Despite the increased brain activity, major voluntary muscles become paralyzed during REM sleep, presumably to prevent injury that could result from acting out dreams.

Importance of REM Sleep

REM sleep is believed to play a role in learning, memory consolidation, brain development in infants, and mood regulation. Lack of sufficient REM sleep has been associated with a number of negative health and cognitive effects.

Sleep Disorders and REM Sleep

Several sleep disorders are specifically related to REM sleep, such as REM sleep behavior disorder (a condition where muscle paralysis does not occur, allowing individuals to act out their dreams), and narcolepsy (a neurological disorder that affects control over sleep and wakefulness).

Diagnosis and Treatment

Abnormalities in REM sleep are often diagnosed with a sleep study, or polysomnography, which monitors various physiological parameters during sleep. Treatment depends on the specific sleep disorder present and may include lifestyle changes, medication, or therapies like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for sleep apnea.

See Also

• Sleep
• Sleep disorders
• Narcolepsy
• Sleep apnea