what is REM sleep?
Well, there are four cycles of sleep,
each consisting of four stages N1, N2, N3, and REM, or rapid eye movement.
Sleep is the fourth and final stand of sleep. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is
a stage of sleep associated with dreaming and memory consolidation. REM
sleep was first discovered in the 1950s, when scientists studying sleeping
infants noticed that there were distinct periods when their eyes moved rapidly
from side to side. These rapid eye movements, or REMs, earned REM sleep its
name.
what happens in REM sleep?
A couple of physiological changes
happen that are very important.
1. muscle tone drops to the lowest
point during the night. Basically, your muscles go offline and your body
becomes virtually paralyzed. The only muscles that are online are your extra
ocular eye muscles and your diaphragm, which is the main breathing muscle. And
this is sort of the way we were designed or evolved, to prevent us from acting
out dreams.
2. our breathing gets quite irregular.
REM sleep originates in an area of the brain called the pawns. The pawns cause
temporary muscle paralysis by turning off signals to neurons in the spine. This
prevents the acting out of dreams, which can cause injury or damage to us.
Dreams can occur during non-REM sleep
also, but the more vivid and frequent dreams occur during REM sleep. The brain
activity sets the stage for vivid dreaming, which appears to be important for processing
emotions and storing memories. As REM sleep begins, the brain generates PGO waves.
PGO waves appear to be related to the eye movements of REM sleep and the visual
phenomenon that we experience during dreams. We may be able to see our dreams
because of the involvement of PGO waves with parts of the brain that process visual
signals. PGO waves may also cue the brain to play back the day's experiences so
they can be processed and stored as memories.
one of the most interesting aspects of
REM sleep is muscle paralysis or Rem-atonia. Rem sleep originates in an area of
the brain called the pawns. The pawns cause temporary muscle paralysis by
turning off signals to neurons in the spine. This prevents the acting out of
dreams which can cause injury or damages. People that have this condition tend
to have dreams predominantly about being attacked or fighting, trying to defend
themselves or others and tend to be violent in their sleep. So, there's
punching, kicking, falling out of bed, running headfirst into walls. Some
people have even jumped through windows, broken glass and fallen out of windows
during these episodes. So, it can be really dangerous thing. It needs to be
identified quickly. It's often not identified for many years now.
Sleep paralysis is a little different
from Rem-atonia. Sleep paralysis causes the inability to move or speak while
the brain is awake and conscious. Sleep paralysis results from incomplete
awakening during REM sleep. This is a form of parasomnia, a sleep disorder that
causes unusual sensations or behavior during sleep. Sufferers usually describe
episodes as frightening, but the effects are temporary and typically last only a
few seconds. Rare episodes can last a few minutes for even longer. It tends to
happen in periods of time where sleep is very disrupted. had sleep deprivation
or sleep schedule has really got thrown off. It's common for College students
to have this during finals.
Rem sleep behavior disorder is a sleep
disorder characterized by a loss of the muscle paralysis. Unique to REM sleep.
People with this disorder act out their dreams and can cause injury or damage to
surroundings. REM sleep behavior disorder 1% of the population and can be a
possible predictor of neurological diseases like Parkinson's disease and
dementia.
What can happen when you don't get
enough REM sleep?
Studies show that lack of REM sleep
can cause inability to remember tasks, regulate emotions and Ward off
illnesses. Chronic lack of REM sleep can cause metabolism dysfunction. Stand
waking.
If you feel you may be suffering from a REM sleep disorder other medical condition, please see a trained professional.
Read About Recession 2023
Read About How to prepare for upcoming Recession 2023?