![]() ![]() You begin to breathe faster and at an irregular rate Your eyes move quickly from side to side beneath closed eyelids (hence the name “rapid eye movement”) SEE RELATED: Obstructive sleep apnea and how it can affect your eyes What happens during REM sleep?ĭuring the REM sleep stage, your body experiences several new sensations, including the following: When you get older, your body spends less time in the REM cycle each night. Experts say that if you miss out on REM sleep, your memory may be affected. The cerebral cortex is also the part of the brain that is used for storing information and memories. The majority of dreaming takes place during this time, as the cerebral cortex is the part of the brain where thinking and learning occur. When signals are sent to the cerebral cortex of the brain, the REM cycle is triggered. The rapid eye movement (REM) cycle of sleep is the second part of the overall sleep sequence, following each stage of non-REM. You spend the most time in stage 2 of non-REM sleep. Throughout the night, your body cycles through each of the stages of both non-REM and REM sleep. This is the stage that gives you that fully rested feeling the next day. Stage 3 - In stage 3 of non-REM sleep, your breathing and heartbeat sink to their lowest rates. Muscles also relax more as your body temperature drops and your eyes stop moving. Stage 2 - Your body remains in a light sleeping state as your breathing and heart rate slow even more. Your muscles also relax and your brain activity eases up. This stage lasts several minutes as your heart rate, eye movements and breathing slow down. ![]() Stage 1 - The first stage of non-REM involves a transition from being awake to drifting into a light sleep. ![]() The non-REM cycle includes the following stages: That’s why this segment is referred to as non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep. So, what is non-REM sleep? It’s the initial part of sleep that occurs from the time you drift off until the point where you reach a deep state of unconsciousness.ĭuring this time, motions within your eyes are slow and come to a stop at a certain point. The REM cycle takes place after the non-REM cycle. Both serve a special function, though people are often more familiar with the REM cycle. There are two main types of sleep that contribute to proper rest - rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM cycles. And getting an adequate amount and quality of your sleep is crucial to keep everything running smoothly. Needless to say, sleep affects every part of the body. Too little sleep can also put you at risk of health problems such as high blood pressure, depression and obesity. If you don’t get enough sleep, it makes it difficult to concentrate and control your focus when you need it the most. Scientists say that a good night’s sleep is as important to survival as food and water. ![]()
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