Many people assume that during sleep, the brain automatically “shuts down” to relax. However, this is not always the case.

Actually, there is more going on behind the eyelids. During sleep, the brain goes through a number of distinct cycles, and one of these is the REM cycle.

In this article, we will talk about:

• The different cycles of sleep
• REM sleep cycle: Functions and consequences
• Why REM sleep cycle is important

Let’s get started!

Sleep Stages

Stage 1: Non-Rapid Eye Movement 1

The first stage of the sleep cycle is a phase of transition between waking and sleeping.

If you awaken someone at this period, they may claim to have been awake all along.

The brain is still quite active at this point. This short sleep lasts around five to ten minutes.

During this sleep stage,

• Your brain begins to slow down.
• Your pulse, eye movements, and breathing all slow down
• Your body relaxes, and you may notice that your muscles twitch

Brain waves called theta waves, which are slow brain waves that mostly happen in the frontal lobe of the brain, are active at this stage.

Stage 2: Non-Rapid Eye Movement 2

The brain starts to create bursts of fast, repetitive brain wave activity known as sleep spindles during this period. They are believed to be a result of the memory formation process through which your brain absorbs, analyses, and filters newly acquired memories from the previous day.

The American Sleep Foundation estimates that adults spend roughly 50% of their entire sleep duration in NREM stage 2, which lasts approximately 20 minutes every cycle.

During this sleep stage,

• You lose awareness of your surroundings.
• Your core body temperature decreases.
• Your eye motions cease.
• Your respiration and heart rate become more steady.

While this is happening, your body begins to slow down in preparation for NREM stage 3 sleep and REM sleep. The next stages are considered the deep sleep stages, during which the brain and body heal, recover, and reset for the following day.

Stage 3: Non-Rapid Eye Movement 3

Delta waves, which are slow, deep brain waves, begin to arise during NREM stage 3 sleep, which is also referred to as delta sleep. This is a time of heavy sleep during which any external sounds or activities may fail to disturb and awaken the sleeping individual.

During this sleep stage,

• You are entirely relaxed in your muscles.
• Your blood pressure lowers, and your breathing becomes more labored.
• You enter your deepest slumber.

During this stage of deep sleep, your body begins to restore itself.

Likewise, your brain consolidates declarative memories, such as general knowledge, facts or statistics, life experiences, and other information you’ve learned.

Getting adequate NREM stage 3 sleep enables you to wake up feeling energized the following day.

Stage 4: Rapid Eye Movement Sleep

When you’re in this stage, your brain’s activity is similar to when you’re awake. However, your body is paralyzed for a short time, which is a good thing because it stops you from having to act out your dreams.

REM sleep starts about 90 minutes after you fall asleep. At this point:

• You start having dreams.
• Your eyes move very quickly.
• Your brain lights up when you do something.
• Your body is relaxed and still.
• You tend to have faster and more irregular breathing patterns.

As in stage 3, memory consolidation takes place while you are in REM sleep. However, it is thought that when we are in REM sleep, our emotional memories are produced, and we store them in our minds.

REM Sleep and its Functions

REM sleep may help you learn, remember, and have a better mood. Also, people who don’t get enough REM sleep might not be as healthy as they should be.

Let’s talk about how REM benefits our overall health.

Function No. 1: Development of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

REM sleep is needed in order for our brains to develop. This is essential especially for infants.

Some research suggests that this stage of sleep is the one that gives the brain the stimulation it needs to grow into a mature brain structure. These findings may help explain why babies need more REM sleep than older people.

Function No. 2: Memory and Learning

Sleep is when the brain processes information and makes memories. As a result, sleep deprivation can hurt and negatively affect a person’s working memory.

Lack of sleep can also make it more likely to make up false memories, according to a 2016 study conducted at healthy young people.

A person can learn muscle patterns and store them in their brains even if they only sleep for a short amount of time during the day, provided that they reached the REM stage of sleep.

Consequences of Lack of REM Sleep

According to certain studies, lack of REM sleep may link to:

Obesity: According to certain research, the amount and quality of sleep are linked to an increased risk of obesity.

Reduced coping abilities: A lack of REM sleep might impair a person’s capacity to distinguish between dangerous and non-threatening situations and act appropriately.

Migraine: Sleep deprivation may raise a person’s chance of suffering a migraine in the days that follow. Low sleep duration and quality, on the other hand, had an influence on migraine frequency.

Importance of REM Sleep

With all the points mentioned above, we can conclude that REM sleep is vital to your sleep cycle. This is because it activates parts of your brain that are critical for learning and forming or maintaining memories.

It is very vital that when you sleep, you just do not close your eyes and not listen to the noise around you. You have to achieve the REM sleep stage.

It is best to incorporate lullaby softgels in your diet that will help you acquire a healthy 7 to 9-hour REM sleep. These supplements include Melatonin, hemp extracts, and Roman Chamomile, giving you the best sleep experience you could possibly have.

Know more about it here and get that REM sleep you always deserve!

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