REM and Sleep
An increased number of sleep studies have allowed scientists to conclusively note the characteristics of REM sleep and factors that will affect it. They have concluded that other species, not just humans, experience REM sleep.
- Snoring only occurs when a person is in non-REM sleep.
- Elephants sleep standing up for non-REM sleep, but lie down for REM sleep.
- Certain eye movements that occur during REM sleep mimic those of people watching a movie.
- While it’s known that alcohol and drugs can affect your sleep, some sleeping medications may suppress REM sleep and have harmful effects over a long period of time.
Dreams and REM
While the connection between REM and dreams was not always apparent, scientists are branching out to study dreams and what happens in the brain during REM. Though the science of dreams is a relatively new field, studies are producing striking results about dreams themselves and what can influence them.
- A person can have up to seven different dreams a night, depending on how many REM cycles they have.
- The connection between REM sleep and dreams was not made until 1952 and the continuous brain recordings that led to the discovery of REM sleep were not done until 1953.
- Slow-wave sleep, also known as deep sleep or sleep without REM, appeared about 180 million years ago. REM sleep is believed to have appeared 50 million years later. Humans most likely developed a monophasic sleep/wake pattern in the Neolithic period (10,000 B.C.), which means they sleep and are awake for one long period of time rather than several short periods of time throughout the day.
- Most dreaming occurs during REM sleep and recent studies have begun exploring a process called Dream Incubation. Dream Incubation is when a person plants a “dream seed” by focusing on a problem or upcoming event before falling asleep, hoping to find a solution in their dreams.
REM and Memory
Recently, groundbreaking research has started to produce concrete evidence linking REM sleep and memory-damaging neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the importance of sleep for brain function may help create new treatments for diseases and cancers.
- Scientists recently made a connection between the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, and disrupted REM sleep. Uninterrupted REM sleep allows the brain to flush out toxic plaques that build up in Alzheimer’s patients, but in interrupted REM sleep the plaques remain and patients struggled with memory problems.
- Research has suggested that REM sleep is crucial for memory processing and development. During REM sleep, the brain sorts through information from that day and determines which items to sort into short-term memory and long-term memory.
Based on these REM sleep facts, restorative, restful sleep is extremely important. Be sure to make your sleep experience the best it can be by using SHEEX® Performance Sheets and Pillowcases. SHEEX® bedding is designed to keep you cool and comfortable at night, so you are able to fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer.
