Articles tagged with Rem Sleep
A study proposes that sleep disruption may be connected to increased risk of dementia through the brain's waste clearance system. The glymphatic system, active during sleep, helps remove metabolic waste, and its disruption may lead to cognitive decline.
Researchers found that vivid dreaming helps sustain deep sleep perception across the night, offering a new perspective on what shapes our perception of sleep depth. The quality of dreams, especially immersiveness, appears crucial in interpreting brain activity during sleep.
Researchers found that immersive dreaming, even with wake-like brain activity, leads to a greater feeling of deep sleep. Vivid dreams are associated with subjective deeper sleep, while abstract thoughts are related to more shallow feelings.
A team from Hackensack Meridian Health found that during the deepest sleep, breathing patterns become independent of brain activity, unlike lighter sleep or wakefulness. This study provides new insights into how internal brain states interact with peripheral rhythms like respiration.
A recent study at the University of Helsinki found that short periods of REM sleep impair horses' perseverance and performance in demanding learning tasks. Horses with longer REM sleep duration performed better in a reverse learning test, suggesting that REM sleep is associated with motivation and perseverance.
The Sleep Innovation Laboratories, led by Dr. Matthew Walker and Eti Ben Simon, aims to bridge foundational neuroscience with real-world application related to sleep. The Labs will focus on creating greater access to engaging, actionable sleep education and advancing a core strategy of the Center for BrainHealth.
A new study found that pink noise can reduce restorative REM sleep and interfere with sleep recovery, while earplugs were more effective in protecting sleep against traffic noise. The findings challenge the widespread use of ambient sound machines and apps marketed as sleep aids.
The ŌURA–NUS Joint Lab combines wearable biometric data with sleep science expertise to study how sleep and physical activity shape long-term health outcomes. The lab aims to generate insights that help individuals, clinicians, and health systems shift from reactive care to proactive preventive health.
Research reveals cannabis use may promote deep, restorative sleep critical for physical restoration and immune function, but at the cost of reduced emotional regulation and memory integration. Chronic cannabis users experience diminishing benefits as use increases.
A new study found that fragmented sleep worsens symptoms of traumatic brain injury and decreases rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Injured mice failed to compensate for lost REM sleep, leading to increased fatigue and decreased activity. The research highlights the critical role of uninterrupted sleep in brain injury recovery.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed an app that uses Apple Watch data to monitor sleep stages and predict Alzheimer's disease risk. The app, BIDSleep, collects heart rate data and feeds it into an AI model that accurately identifies sleep stages 71% of the time.
A new study using next-generation imaging technology discovered that when the brain is falling asleep, it shows a coordinated shift in activity. Areas involved in thinking, memory, and daydreaming quiet down and use less energy during NREM sleep.
A new study reveals the complex brain circuits involved in growth hormone release during sleep. The findings provide a map for understanding how sleep and hormone regulation interact, potentially leading to new treatments for sleep disorders and degenerative diseases.
A study found that memories acquired while awake are stored in a more permanent form during REM sleep, requiring the reactivation of only three adult-born neurons involved in memory formation. This process is synchronized with theta rhythm activity and essential for proper memory function.
A new study by Concordia researchers finds that chronic benzodiazepine consumption impacts sleep quality in older adults, leading to poorer sleep architecture and brain oscillation activities. The study suggests that these drugs may worsen cognitive functions already affected by aging.
Researchers at the University of Michigan propose a new theory that non-REM sleep strengthens memories, while REM prunes overlapping ones. This sequence helps reinforce relevant memories and keeps unrelated ones distinct.
A Waseda University research team developed a method to measure thermal insulation of bedding systems, considering individual body parts. The study found that relying solely on whole-body insulation is not enough and revealed the importance of optimizing sleep environments for better quality.
Researchers from the Mount Sinai Health System are presenting new studies on the impact of sleep on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The studies explore the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and Alzheimer's pathogenesis, as well as the effects of sleep disruption on spatial learning and neuroinflammation.
A new study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham found that more than half of sleep sessions end in a snooze alarm, with users spending an average of 11 minutes on the device. Snooze usage varied by day of the week and was lower among those sleeping five or fewer hours.
Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio discovered a significant link between REM sleep disturbances and increased PTSD severity. The study suggests that targeting REM sleep could be a promising approach for improving PTSD treatment outcomes.
The World Sleep Society releases recommendations on wearable sleep trackers, providing clear guidelines for consumers, clinicians, researchers, and manufacturers. Key takeaways include choosing a device suitable for individual use cases and focusing on fundamental sleep measures rather than specific stages of sleep.
A large-scale study published in JNeurosci reveals distinct brain activity patterns during lucid dreaming compared to rapid eye movement sleep and wakefulness. The findings suggest shifts in brain region activation and communication that may be linked to changes in perception, memory processing, self-awareness, and cognitive control.
A new American Heart Association scientific statement emphasizes the importance of multidimensional sleep health in reducing cardiometabolic risks. The statement reviews evidence on the relationship between sleep and various health factors, including body fat, blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
A study of European jackdaws reveals that sleep-deprived birds prioritize deep sleep over vigilant wakefulness. The findings suggest that even flexible sleep strategies have limits, highlighting the importance of understanding animal sleep patterns to better comprehend human sleep loss.
Researchers at ISTA discovered that neural activity patterns during sleep reflect recently learned spatial memories and transform into those seen later upon awakening. This 'representational drift' phenomenon optimizes memory representations for long-term storage, allowing the brain to free up resources for new memories.
Researchers have discovered a blood test that can identify patients with a sleep disorder who are most likely to develop Dementia with Lewy Bodies. The blood test analyzes two proteins in the blood associated with Alzheimer's disease and predicted dementia risk in almost 90% of patients, four years before symptoms appeared.
Researchers at the Kavli Institute discovered that grid cells perform rapid, rhythmic sweeps into the space ahead of the animal, allowing it to probe the environment. This new understanding of spatial navigation reshapes our understanding of how the brain builds mental maps and tracks precise positions within these landscapes.
Researchers discovered that non-REM sleep is crucial for strengthening emotionally linked perceptual memories, contrary to previous beliefs about REM sleep. The study found that the amygdala and cortical top-down circuitry play a key role in this process.
A study found that people with delayed REM sleep have higher levels of toxic proteins amyloid and tau, and lower levels of healthy protein BDNF, which can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Practicing healthy sleep habits may help mitigate this risk.
A Mount Sinai-led team has developed an automated machine learning method that analyzes video recordings of clinical sleep tests to detect REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) with nearly 92% accuracy. RBD is a sleep condition that causes abnormal movements during REM sleep and is often an early sign of Parkinson's disease or dementia.
A new study published in PNAS found that sleep deprivation leads to memory control deficits, making it harder to suppress unwanted memories. REM sleep rejuvenates brain regions that support memory inhibition, reducing the likelihood of intrusive memories.
A new study suggests that exercise can improve cognitive performance for up to 24 hours after a single day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. The study found that participants who spent more time being active and had better sleep quality performed better in memory tests the next day.
Researchers identified a novel role for the locus coeruleus in facilitating transition between NREM and REM sleep states while maintaining unconscious vigilance. Stress disrupts its functions, negatively impacting sleep quality. The study provides crucial insights into sleep disorders and could lead to improved treatments.
A new study from Rice University and Houston Methodist reveals that NREM sleep enhances neuronal and behavioral performance by fostering brain synchronization and information encoding. Researchers replicated these effects through invasive stimulation, suggesting promising possibilities for future neuromodulation therapies.
A new study found that females sleep less and wake up more often than males, with females experiencing shorter bouts of sleep. The study suggests biological factors may play a role in driving these sleep differences, rather than lifestyle or caregiving roles.
Research by the University of Sydney has identified CBN as a constituent that improves sleep in rats. The study showed that CBN increased both NREM and REM sleep, leading to increased total sleep time.
A new therapeutic approach combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and lucid dreaming has shown promise in reducing nightmare severity and frequency in patients with narcolepsy. The study, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, found overall reductions in nightmare symptoms in all six participants tested.
A new study has identified two neuron types in the brainstem that induce REM sleep, revealing a potential cause of Parkinson's disease. The discovery provides insight into the neural circuitry underlying REM sleep and its relationship to neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have successfully manipulated brain waves during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep using sound stimulation, which may help improve cognition in individuals with dementia. The study found that stimulating brain waves could increase their frequency, offering a promising new approach for treating the condition.
A new study suggests that more hot flashes occur during the second half of the night, when disruptions to REM sleep can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study found that 41% of total hot flashes occurred during the first half of the night and 59% in the second half.
Researchers at USC developed an approach that matches polysomnography using a single-lead echocardiogram, allowing anyone to create their own low-cost, DIY sleep-tracking device. The software significantly outperformed other EEG-less models and assesses sleep stages at the highest level.
A study by researchers at São Paulo State University found that dopaminergic medication levodopa improves sleep quality in Parkinson's disease patients. The number of times patients woke up during the night fell by 25% and the amount of time they remained awake fell 30% on average.
Researchers found that small regions of the brain can momentarily 'flicker' awake while the rest of the brain remains asleep, and vice versa from wake to sleep. This challenges traditional understanding of sleep and wake patterns, which have been defined by slow, long-lasting waves.
A study found that suvorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist, increased fat oxidation and decreased protein catabolism during sleep in healthy men. The effect persisted after waking up, suggesting a potential clinical use for orexin receptor antagonists in managing energy metabolism.
Researchers from Mount Sinai presented three studies on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) at SLEEP 2024, exploring its effects on thalamic activity, overnight memory performance, and symptom improvement with CPAP treatment. The findings suggest that OSA can impair cognitive function and that hypoxic burden may predict clinical improvement.
A recent UC Irvine-led study reveals a correlation between sleep apnea events during the rapid-eye-movement (REM) stage and verbal memory impairment in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's. The study found that higher ratios of apnea severity during REM compared to non-REM stages were associated with worse memory performance.
The review found women report lower sleep quality, more fluctuations, and higher likelihoods of developing restless legs syndrome and sleep-related eating disorder. Women's brains respond differently to food images after sleep deprivation, with increased emotional processing and activation.
Researchers found a correlation between Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait in 20 studies, noting similar brain injury causes both symptoms. Sleep quality deteriorates when dopaminergic medication is stopped, suggesting treatment potential for freezing of gait.
Researchers found that reindeer spend more time ruminating and less time in non-REM sleep, suggesting a possible restorative function of rumination. The study suggests that reindeer may be able to save time by resting during rumination, allowing them to cope with limited sleep time during the arctic summer.
Stress activates neurons in the preoptic hypothalamus during non-rapid eye movement sleep, causing microarousals that interrupt sleep cycles. Suppressing these neurons may be a promising target for therapies to treat stress-related sleep disorders like insomnia and PTSD.
Research by Hungarian researchers found that flat-faced dogs, like French Bulldogs, sleep more due to increased daytime sleepiness and longer REM sleep phases. Their EEG patterns showed signs of white matter loss and distorted brain function.
A study evaluated sleep tracking performance of various wearable devices against a reference system, considering user needs. Non-EEG wearables showed superior performance for healthy individuals who want to monitor sleep habits.
Jessica Kendall-Bar, a UCSC Ph.D. graduate, has won the Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists for her groundbreaking research on elephant seal sleep habits while at sea. Her work revealed that these marine mammals sleep bilaterally during deep dives and have a flexible sleep duration range-wide 'sleepscape.'
A study of 1,732 adults found that 69% used the snooze function or set multiple alarms. Snoozing resulted in lost sleep but prevented awakening from slow-wave sleep. In a second study, 30 minutes of snoozing improved cognitive performance.
A study comparing dreams from Western and non-Western populations found that non-Western groups produced more cathartic and socially-oriented dreams, while Western groups had more threatening but less emotionally resolving dreams. The results suggest a strong link between societal norms and the function of dreams.
Researchers found that ordinary sleepers can pick up verbal information and respond to it by contracting facial muscles, even during most stages of sleep. The study suggests that standardized communication protocols may be possible with sleeping individuals to better understand mental activity changes during sleep.
A new study analyzing over 220,000 people's sleep data shows that those in Asia have shorter sleep duration and lower quality, with more variable sleep timing on weekdays. In contrast, people in other regions tend to have longer weekend sleep extension, suggesting a cultural impact on sleep habits.
A study from the University of Notre Dame found that recalling dreams and finding meaning in them can elicit feelings of awe, making subsequent work stressors seem less daunting. The researchers suggest promoting the 'awe experience' at work to increase productivity.
Researchers discovered that octopuses transition between quiet and active stages of sleep, with the latter resembling neural activity seen when awake. This active stage may be essential for octopus function and potentially related to dreaming.
Birds experience flight-like sensations in their dreams during REM sleep, suggesting emotional content, while cerebral spinal fluid flow is disrupted. The study reveals similarities between bird and human sleep patterns, highlighting the importance of sleep for brain health and cognition.