The REM phase begins ninety minutes after we fall asleep, thus breathing accelerates, conventional eye movements begin and also the most vivid nightmares, at this point it is interesting to note that the brain shows the same activity that it would have if it were awake. Which is the reason? You are about to perform one of your most important tasks.
This phase of sleep was discovered more than 50 years ago, now it can be said that the sleep phase of rapid eye movements or the REM phase (rapid eye movements) continues to contain many riddles, for example, scientists are sure that at this stage of our rest, the brain records new memories in our long-term memory.
- We also know that the brain acts as a true sculptor.
- Abandoning what it considers irrelevant or useless to preserve all the data it considers significant.
- In this way it shapes a part of who we are.
- Facilitates learning.
- Integrates experiences and manages to lay the foundations of our maturation.
- Our cognitive.
- Sensory and emotional evolution.
However, experts are unaware, for example, of what mechanisms guide the brain to enter this REM phase abruptly in a surprising, overactive and full of possibilities. For example, studies published in the journal Nature and conducted by neurologists Jon Lu and David Sherman report a kind of “switch” located on the brainstem.
It would be another set of specialized neurons that would allow us to cross, so to speak, this threshold and move towards this world where dreams are more vivid Is it at this point that some people can walk sleepwalkers and our brains rearrange all memories?coded during the day?
“We are made of the same tissue from which dreams are made. “William Shakespeare
When Sherlock Holmes told Dr. Watson that the best remedy for all problems was sleep, he was not mistaken, when our body rests, we regain energy and health, a good night’s sleep is an ideal mechanism to reduce stress, so we can see reality from other perspectives and think more clearly and accurately.
Sleep is a biological necessity. Letting our brain travel, deepen and take control in the REM phase is essential for most living things.
In addition, we know that we all generally have between 4 and 9 sleep cycles divided into 5 phases each, which are rem territory, where this REM sleep gives us a restful rest and our brain can perform essential tasks.
In addition, we also know that newborns and young children spend most of the sleep cycle in the REM stage, so they better integrate each experience in what is undoubtedly the most important stage of their development, however, to From the age of 6 this phase is considerably reduced and lasts as long as in an adult.
On the other hand, as scientists Una de Karni and BS Rubenstein explain in a study published in the journal Science, REM sleep is the key to our perception and attention, to respond to stimuli, to learn and survive in our environment.
Similarly, we also know that all mammals, such as birds, dream and have their REM phase. Interestingly, isn’t the same with fish, lizards and turtles?
Is it also called REM sleep?Paradoxical ?, because of the peculiarity of the brain waves that appear in this resting phase: they are out of sync, they are very fast and low voltage.
On the other hand, the area of the brain that expertly regulates this phase of sleep is the brain stem, cortical and talamic neurons are more depolarized at this stage, and there is also a type of neurotransmitter in greater quantity: Acetylcholine. reach the REM phase, we usually find the following:
To better understand how the REM phase works and appears, let’s see what the sleep phases are.
In this first stage awakenings are common, as well as the feeling of sudden falls. Muscle tone gradually relaxes and alpha and theta brain waves predominate.
Sleep goes deeper, heart rate decreases, as does body temperature. At this stage, the body prepares to enter the most important resting phases.
At these stages, sleep is deep. Delta waves predominate and sleep disturbances such as night terrors and sleepwalking can occur.
During this non-REM sleep phase, the body and tissues regenerate, cells that no longer function are removed and the immune system is released; however, in the case of children, the growth of bones and muscles is stimulated.
Between 90 and 100 minutes of sleep we finally reach the REM phase, in this phase the brain waves have the same activity that they would have if we were awake, in addition our dreams present a narrative with more meaning and the body loses muscle tone Predominate theta waves and the brain begins to integrate long-term memory experiments.
This cycle described will be repeated during the night between 4 and 5 times, in each cycle the REM stage will last longer, starting with 10 minutes until reaching an hour (two hours if we are less than 30 and half an hour if we are older than 65 years) .
As you can see, the relevance of maintaining good sleep hygiene is essential not only to recover energy, get a good night’s sleep and get to the REM phase is the key to taking care of our cognitive processes, our memory, our attention, our perception, our ability to react more effectively to daily stimuli?
According to Shakespeare, the man who does not eat his dreams ages fast, could we also add that the person who does not sleep and does not dream does not live as he deserves?