====== REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep ======

>Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep or REMS) is a unique phase of sleep in mammals and birds, distinguishable by random/rapid movement of the eyes, accompanied with low muscle tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the sleeper to dream vividly."
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>[ Source Wikipedia, link below ]

First described in the mid 1950s, REM sleep is known to be an essential component of healthy sleep. The questions of why the eyes move rapidly, what regulates REM episodes, and what are the precise functions of REM sleep are yet to be answered.

There are currently at least 8 competing theories.

Some researchers maintain that has no purpose at all, and simply results from random brain signal activity.

//Note:// Sleep periods without REM is termed 'NREM' (non-REM) - the purpose of which is also unclear (see [[content:life_sciences:human_body:sleep]])

//Further reading :// [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_eye_movement_sleep|Wikipedia]]

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Also see [[content:life_sciences:human_body:dreaming|Dreaming]]