course hero why rem sleep might serve an important adaptive function for cats and humans

by Miss Gilda Olson 6 min read

What are the key points about REM sleep?

Answer REM sleep may stimulate the developing brain in newborn babies. REM sleep helps us sort and retain memories, especially memories about strategies for solving problems. The brain areas associated with imagery and emotion become more active during REM sleep. All of these statements are true.

What is the activation synthesis theory of REM sleep?

 · Why is REM Sleep Important. REM sleep, or Rapid Eye Movement Sleep is one of the stages of sleep. It is the stage of sleep most associated with dreaming. During REM sleep the brain and body act very different than they do during other stages of sleep. During this stage of sleep the skeletal muscles act as if they are paralyzed. In fact all voluntary muscles, except for …

Why is REM sleep important for infants?

Access 100 million course-specific study materials. Study Resources. 24/7 Homework Help. Textbooks & Solutions. Submit question. Answers in as fast as 15 minutes. Introducing Textbook Solutions & Explanations. Let us guide you through the questions in your textbook, step by step. We’re adding new textbooks every week.

What is the difference between REM and NREM sleep?

During the other type of sleep, called non-REM sleep, the EEG shows large, regular waves. Breathing and heart rate are slower and more regular than during REM sleep. During non-REM sleep large, slow eye movements occur. REM Sleep in Cats. The discovery of REM sleep ultimately had a huge impact on sleep research.

What is REM sleep?

REM sleep is a stage of sleep that is characterized by low muscle tone, rapid eye movements and dreams. It is present in all mammals and has unique physiologic properties that distinguish it from non-REM sleep.

Where does REM sleep originate?

During REM sleep, neural activity appears to originate in the brainstem, especially in the locus coeruleus and the pontine tegmentum. As per the activation synthesis theory suggested by Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley in 1975-1977, controlling REM sleep involves REM-on and REM-off neuron pathways in the brainstem.

What is the stage of sleep called?

This stage of sleep is also known as 'paradoxical sleep,' or 'desynchronized sleep', due to the physiological similarities to a person’s waking states; which includes low-voltage, rapid, desynchronized brainwaves. It’s believed that the chemical and electrical activity that regulate this sleep phase originate in the brain stem, and this is most notably characterized by a combination of an abundance of acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter), and the almost complete absence of serotonin, histamine, and norepinephrine (monoamine neurotransmitters). ( 1)

How long does REM sleep last?

Approximately every six seconds during the transition from deep to paradoxical sleep, these waves occur in clusters and last for between one and two minutes.

Why is REM important?

Having trouble sleeping. REM sleep is an important part of your sleep cycle, sleep in general is incredibly important for your overall health and wellbeing.

What is the best treatment for sleep problems?

If you are having persistent difficulties sleeping, one solution could be Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (C BT-I), and online program that can help you identify the root cause of your sleep problem. Sleepstation can provide you with an effective step-by-step plan to recover your sleep.

What is the significance of dreams?

One belief is that dreams are the brains way of processing and storing pieces of information relevant to previous events. Author.

When did the Golden Age of Sleep start?

The Golden Age of Sleep Research began in 1952 with observations of body and eye movements during sleep. The research was carried out by a graduate student, Eugene Aserinsky, in a pio­neering sleep laboratory at the University of Chicago.

Do people need less sleep as they age?

A persistent myth about sleep duration is that people need less and less sleep as they age. Observational studies show no drop-off in sleep required, as people age. However, the number of reported nighttime awakenings goes up drama­tically with age.

What is non REM sleep?

It’s hard to wake up from this stage of sleep. REM sleep happens about an hour to an hour and a half after falling asleep. REM sleep is when you tend to have vivid dreams.

What is the last stage of non-REM sleep?

The last two stage of non-REM sleep is when you sleep deeply. It’s hard to wake up from this stage of sleep. REM sleep happens about an hour to an hour and a half after falling asleep. REM sleep is when you tend to have vivid dreams. As you sleep, your body cycles through non-REM and REM sleep.

Why is sleep important?

Sleep is an important part of our lives. It improves physical and mental health. Sleep happens in stages, including REM sleep and non-REM sleep. Many factors affect your sleep quality, including food and room temperature. If you think you may have a sleep problem, talk to a healthcare provider.

What happens when you sleep?

And enough sleep (or lack of it) affects your physical and mental health. When you sleep, your body has a chance to rest and restore energy.

How does sleep affect your health?

But parts of your brain are quite active during sleep. And enough sleep (or lack of it) affects your physical and mental health. When you sleep, your body has a chance to rest and restore energy. A good night’s sleep can help you cope with stress, solve problems or recover from illness. Not getting enough sleep can lead to many health concerns, ...

What happens if you don't get enough sleep?

Not getting enough sleep can lead to many health concerns, affecting how you think and feel. During the night, you cycle through two types of sleep: non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Your brain and body act differently during these different phases.

What are the two types of sleep?

During the night, you cycle through two types of sleep: non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Your brain and body act differently during these different phases. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.

Why is sleep important?

Sleep is one of the most important things you can do to maintain good health. Getting enough sleep is critical for your safety, as well as your emotional and physical well-being. The bottom line is for optimal health; you should make getting plenty of sleep a priority!

What happens when you sleep in Dreamland?

While you’re off in dreamland, several physiological changes in your body take place. Changes in your temperature, heart rate and brain activity all occur during sleep. Although physiological demands are decreased, several things are still going on.

What happens to your body during sleep?

Changes in your temperature, heart rate and brain activity all occur during sleep. Although physiological demands are decreased, several things are still going on. As you pass through the various stages of sleep, your body cognitively and physically restores itself.

What are the consequences of sleep deprivation?

Sleep deprivation can lead to many consequences. Without an adequate amount sleep, our minds and bodies are unable to perform at their peak. There are several potentially bad outcomes that are associated with inadequate sleep. Sleep influences the immune system, memory consolidation, attention, hunger, mood, response time, and many other body functions.

What happens if you don't sleep enough?

Without an adequate amount sleep, our minds and bodies are unable to perform at their peak. There are several potentially bad outcomes that are associated with inadequate sleep. Sleep influences the immune system, memory consolidation, attention, hunger, mood, response time, and many other body functions.

How does lack of sleep affect mental health?

Lack of sleep can affect everything from your mental health to your waistline. For children, getting enough rest is essential for proper growth and development. For example, when children don’t get enough sleep, it can interfere with how well they do in school.

Why is it important to get enough sleep?

For children, getting enough rest is essential for proper growth and development. For example, when children don’t get enough sleep, it can interfere with how well they do in school. Memory is also negatively impacted if you’re sleep deprived, which affects learning at any age.

How does sleep help animals?

Sleep can be seen as an adaptive state, benefiting animals by increasing the efficiency of their activity . Sleep does this by suppressing activity at times that have maximal predator risk and permitting activity at times of maximal food and prey availability and minimal predator risk. It also increases efficiency by decreasing brain and body metabolism. However, unlike the dormant states employed in plants, simple multicellular organisms, and ectothermic organ-isms, and the hibernation and torpor employed in some mammals and birds, sleep allows rapid arousal for tending to infants, dealing with predators, and responding to envi-ronmental changes. A major function of REM sleep may be to allow this rapid response by periodic brainstem acti-vation. Many organisms can reduce sleep for long periods of time without rebound during periods of migration or other periods in which a selective advantage can be obtained by continuous waking.

Do birds have REM sleep?

Birds have REM sleep that appears physiologically very similar to that seen in mammals, although REM sleep values tend to be lower in comparison to total sleep values than in mammals.30 Many bird species migrate over long distances. The effect of this migratory behavior on sleep has been studied in the white-crowned sparrow (Zono-trichia leucophrys gambelii). These birds, even when con-fined in the laboratory, decrease sleep time by two thirds during the periods when they would normally be migrat-ing.64 It should be noted that this is a common feature of cycles of adaptive inactivity; for example, a ground squirrel that normally hibernates in the winter will enter a state of torpor at the appropriate season even when maintained in a laboratory under constant conditions.65During the migratory period, the sparrow’s learning and responding was unimpaired or improved. Their sleep was not deeper by EEG criteria than that seen when they were not migrating, despite its greatly reduced duration. Their sleep latency did not differ from that during nonmigrating periods.64The observations in monotremes and birds suggest that the reptilian common ancestor of both mammals and birds had REM sleep or a closely related precursor state, rather than the previously advanced speculation that REM sleep must have evolved twice based on the prior conclusion that monotremes did not have REM sleep. Although there

What is the function of sleep?

Rather, the major function of sleep is to increase behav- ioral efficiency. Greater waking activity does not necessarily lead to increased numbers of viable offspring and, hence, genetic success. Rather, genetic success is closely linked to the efficient use of resources and to the avoidance of risk.

How long does it take for a mouse to sleep?

Sleep cycle time is about 10 minutes in mice, 90 minutes in humans, and 2 hours in elephants.

What are the three classes of mammals?

The mammalian class can be subdivided into three sub-classes: placentals, marsupials, and monotremes. There are just three extant monotreme species, the short beaked and long beaked echidna and the platypus (Video 10-1). Fossil and genetic evidence indicates that the monotreme line diverged from the other mammalian lines about 150 million years ago and that both echidna species are derived from a platypus-like ancestor.49-52 The monotremes have shown a remarkably conservative evolutionary course since their divergence from the two other mammalian lines. For example, fossil teeth from Steropodon galmani dated at 110 million years ago show many similarities to the vestigial teeth of the current day platypus, Ornithorhyncus anatinus.53 Analyses of fossilized skull remains indicate remarkably little change in platypus morphology over at least 60 million years.53,54 The low level of speciation throughout the fossil record is another indicator of the uniquely con-servative lineage of monotremes. The 150 million years of platypus evolution has produced no species radiation, apart from the echidna line, and there are only two living and one extinct species of echidna. Although monotremes are distinctly mammalian, they do display a number of reptil-ian features, making study of their physiology a unique opportunity to determine the commonalities and diver-gences in mammalian evolution.50,55,56

What temperature do bats hibernate?

This condition is entered from, and generally terminates in, sleep periods. During hibernation, body temperature can be reduced to below 10° C to as low as −3° C with greatly reduced energy consumption. 12,13.

Why is REM sleep important?

Central nervous system (CNS) development. REM sleep may be especially important for brain development in infants. Some research indicates that this sleep stage is responsible for the neural stimulation necessary to develop mature neural connections.

What is REM sleep?

One of these stages is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During this phase, the eyes move rapidly in various directions. The other four phases are referred to as non-REM (NREM) sleep. People enter REM sleep within the first 90 minutes of falling asleep and, as the sleep cycle repeats throughout the night, REM sleep occurs several times nightly.

How many times does REM sleep occur?

People enter REM sleep within the first 90 minutes of falling asleep and, as the sleep cycle repeats throughout the night, REM sleep occurs several times nightly. It accounts for approximately 20 to 25 percent of an adult’s sleep cycle, and over 50 percent of an infant’s.

How long does it take to go to REM sleep?

People enter REM sleep within the first 90 minutes of falling asleep and, as the sleep cycle repeats throughout the night, REM sleep occurs several times nightly. It accounts for approximately 20 to 25 percent of an adult’s sleep cycle, and over 50 percent of an infant’s. Most dreams occur during REM sleep, and it is thought to play ...

How long does REM sleep last?

The first phase of REM usually lasts for 10 minutes, with each phase getting progressively longer. The final phase of REM sleep may last for up to an hour. During REM sleep, the body and brain go through several changes, including: Rapid movement of the eyes. Fast and irregular breathing.

What is stage 2 non-REM sleep?

Body temperature drops and heart rate slows down. Stages 3 and 4 non-REM sleep – a state of deep and restorative sleep known as slow-wave sleep, or delta sleep. The muscles relax, the supply of blood to the muscles increases, and the body repairs and grows tissue.

Does alcohol affect REM sleep?

The more alcohol consumed before sleep, the more REM sleep is impacted. of 27 studies on alcohol and sleep found that total nightly REM sleep was decreased at moderate and high intakes of alcohol, although no clear trend was seen at low levels of alcohol intake.