REM sleep

REM sleep
REM sleep is the portion of sleep when there are rapid eye movements (REMs). Dreams occur during REM sleep. We typically have 3 to 5 periods of REM sleep per night. They occur at intervals of 1-2 hours and are quite variable in length. An episode of REM sleep may last 5 minutes or over an hour. About 20% of sleep is REM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, perhaps an hour and half of that time, 90 minutes, is REM sleep. REM sleep is characterized by a number of other features including rapid, low-voltage brain waves detectable on the electroencephalographic (EEG) recording, irregular breathing and heart rate and involuntary muscle jerks.

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REM sleep n a state of sleep that recurs cyclically several times during a normal period of sleep and that is characterized by increased neuronal activity of the forebrain and midbrain, by depressed muscle tone, and esp. in humans by dreaming, rapid eye movements, and vascular congestion of the sex organs called also desynchronized sleep, paradoxical sleep, rapid eye movement sleep compare SLOW-WAVE SLEEP

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • REM sleep — [ˈrem sli:p] n [U] technical [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: rapid eye movement] rapid eye movement sleep a period during sleep when your eyes move quickly, when you are dreaming …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • REM sleep — [ rem ,slip ] noun uncount a stage of sleep during which you dream and your eyes make small quick movements. REM is an abbreviation for rapid eye movement …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • REM sleep — REM′ sleep n. phl rapid eye movement sleep: a recurrent sleep pattern during which dreaming occurs while the eyes rapidly shift under closed lids Compare slow wave sleep • Etymology: 1965–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • REM sleep — noun a recurring sleep state during which dreaming occurs; a state of rapidly shifting eye movements during sleep • Syn: ↑paradoxical sleep, ↑rapid eye movement sleep, ↑rapid eye movement, ↑REM • Hypernyms: ↑sleep, ↑slumber * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • REM sleep — Rapid eye movement sleep. One of the five stages of sleep. During REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly while closed and dreams occur. REM sleep is the lightest stage of sleep, during which a person may wake easily. During several hours of normal… …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • REM sleep — /ˈrɛm slip/ (say rem sleep) noun sleep which occurs in short bursts throughout the sleeping period during which rapid eye movements occur, breathing becomes irregular, blood pressure rises, there is loss of muscle tone, and dreaming occurs. {REM… …  

  • REM sleep behavior disorder — (RBD) a sleep disorder of the parasomnia group characterized by abnormal electromyographic activity, altered dreams, and violent behaviors, often leading to self injury, during REM sleep; it is often associated with α synucleopathies …   Medical dictionary

  • REM sleep — UK [ˈrem ˌsliːp] / US [ˈrem ˌslɪp] noun [uncountable] a stage of sleep during which you dream and your eyes make small quick movements. REM is an abbreviation for rapid eye movement …   English dictionary

  • REM sleep — noun Date: 1965 a state of sleep that recurs cyclically several times during a normal period of sleep and that is characterized especially by increased neuronal activity of the forebrain and midbrain, depressed muscle tone, dreaming, and rapid… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • REM sleep — noun The stage of sleep during which most brain activity and dreams occur, characterised by rapid eye movement (REM) …   Wiktionary

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