REM Sleep

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep

Areas of the Brain Involved in Sleep

REM sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep is characterized by muscular atonia, twitches,  sudden bursts of rapid eye movements, tachycardia followed by bradycardia. Usually, REM sleep occurs 90 minutes after sleep onset. The first period of REM typically lasts 10 minutes, with each recurring REM stage lengthening, and the final one may last up to an hour.Three areas of the brain are involved in REM sleep, the reticular formation in the brain stem, thalamus and cortex. Most, but not all dreams occur during REM sleep, and it has been suggested that REM sleep may function to support brain development, regulate body temperature ,strengthen the immune system and aid the memorization of recently learnt material.

Areas of the Brain involved in REM Sleep

 The particular part of the brain which appears to control REM is the pons, also the locus ceruleus has been implicated in REM sleep, for bilateral destruction produces total suppression of REM sleep. People awakened from REM sleep often report that they had been dreaming, this led researches to assume that REM and dreaming were one and the same. Recent research has found this not to be so, people who have sustained injuries to the pons, have been found to be incapable of REM sleep, and yet they still report having dreams.

During REM sleep the variability of blood pressure and heart rate are increased, changes in respiration occur, the respiratory rate is rapid and irregular. Some people may have significant reduction of the airway diameter in the oropharangeal region, causing an increase in airway resistance, this may lead to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Cerebral blood flow increases during REM sleep, brain temperature increases along with total body oxygen consumption. Body temperature during REM sleep is closely related to the ambient temperature, whereas, during NREM sleep the body thermoregulates.

References: Carrier-Kohlman Virginia, Lindsey Ada M. West Claudia m. Pathophysiological Phenomena in Nursing 2nd edition Published W.B. Saunders Comapny, 1986.