What Is REM Sleep?

Nowadays, people are searching for what is REM sleep and rem sleep meaning. During sleeping the brain goes through five different sleep stages. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is one of these stages. The other four stages are referred to as non-REM (NREM) sleep. 

While eyes are closed they move fast during REM sleep and dreams occur. REM sleep is the lightest stage of sleep in which a person can easily wake up. During a few hours of normal sleep, a person goes through several rem cycles that include REM sleep and the four stages of non-REM (light to deep sleep). It is also called rapid eye movement. 

Do you know what is a REM cycle? People first fall into REM sleep. REM sleep occurs several times each night as 90 minutes of sleep and sleep cycles are repeated throughout the night. It accounts for about 20 to 25 percent of an adult’s sleep cycle and more than 50 percent of a baby. The sleep cycle begins with non-REM sleep before rem moves to the sleep phase. How long is rem cycle also a wondering question. The first stage of REM usually takes 10 minutes, and each stage gradually lengthens. The last stage of REM sleep could take one hour. 

Most dreams occur during REM sleep and are thought to play a role in learning, memory, and mood. Your brain goes through natural activity cycles while you sleep. There are a total of four sleep stages divided into two stages:

Non-REM sleep occurs before and involves three stages. You sleep deeply in the last two stages of non-REM sleep. It’s hard to wake up from this sleep phase. After falling asleep, REM sleep begins approximately an hour to an hour and a half later. When you’re sleeping in REM, you’re more likely to have vivid dreams.

While you sleep, your body cycles in non-REM and REM sleep. You usually start the sleep cycle with the first stage of non-REM sleep. You go through other stages of non-REM sleep, followed by a short period of REM sleep. Then the cycle begins again in the first stage. A full sleep cycle lasts about 90 to 110 minutes. Your first REM period is short. As the night progresses, you will have longer REM sleep and less deep sleep.

There are a lot of thoughts about what happens during REM sleep. Rem sleep is an in-out cycle, rapid movement behind the closed doors of the eyes and brain waves are similar during wakefulness. As we dream, the speed of breathing increases, and the body is temporarily paralyzed.

• Breathing: During non-REM sleep, breathing slows down and during the third phase of deep sleep, breathing reaches its lowest speeds. During REM sleep, breathing accelerates and may become irregular.
• Pulse: As with breathing, the heart rate begins to slow down in the first stage and reaches its slowest speed in the third stage. On the other hand, during REM sleep, the pulse accelerates almost as when you are awake.
• Brain activity: When measured during sleep, brain waves show clear models associated with each sleep stage. In the first episodes of non-REM sleep, brain waves slow down significantly; however, there are numerous bursts of rapid brain activity in Stage two and stage three.
• Dreaming: Dreaming is the most common and intense during REM sleep but can occur at any sleep stage. However, dreams that are non-REM and occur during REM sleep tend to show different patterns. REM dreams are often more imaginative, immersive, or strange.

Thanks to the Dreambook app, you can record your dreams. For instance, REM sleep that you see. You can also write your thoughts about your sleep cycle and dreams. You can choose the type of your dream and you can set up a reminder.