Rapid Eye Movement (Noun)
Meaning
A recurring sleep state during which dreaming occurs; a state of rapidly shifting eye movements during sleep.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- During rapid eye movement sleep, the brain is active and dreams are vivid, but the body is paralyzed to prevent acting out the dreams.
- Research suggests that rapid eye movement is crucial for learning and memory consolidation, and that disruptions to this stage of sleep can have negative effects on cognitive function.
- Rapid eye movement typically occurs in cycles throughout the night, with each cycle lasting around 90-120 minutes and increasing in duration as the night progresses.
- The brain waves during rapid eye movement are similar to those during wakefulness, and this stage of sleep is thought to be when the brain processes and consolidates memories.
- Rapid eye movement is also characterized by increased heart rate, blood pressure, and brain activity, which can be intense enough to wake a person up if they are not able to transition smoothly into the next stage of sleep.