subject: Rem-seep Deprivation [print this page] Because of the organization with dreaming, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep has long been the subject matter of complex study. Sleep researchers have particularly deprived sleeping subjects of REM sleep by waking them up every time a bout of REM sleep begins.
REM-seep deprivation has two well-worn impacts. First, with each successive night of sleep deprivation, there is a greater penchant for factors to initiate REM experience. Thus, as REM-sleep deprivation proceeds, subjects have to be invigorated more and more incessantly to keep them from accumulating amounts of REM-sleep. For example, during the first night of REM-sleep deprivation, the subjects have to be awakened 17 times to keep them from having extended periods of REM-sleep. During the seventh night of deprivation they had to be awakened 67 times. Second, following REM sleep deprivation, subjects display a REM rebound. They have more than their usual amount of REM sleep for the first two or three nights.
However, one up-to-date theory about REM sleep is based on the conclusion that this type of sleep serves no critical function. This is the evade theory of REM sleep. According to this theory, it is difficult to stay endlessly in Non-REM sleep, so the brain periodically tracks to one of two other states. If there is any bodily need to take care of (e.g., eating or drinking), the brain switches to wakefulness. If there is no immediate need, it switches to the default state REM sleep. According to the default theory, REM sleep and wakefulness are similar states, the REM sleep is more adaptive when there are no immediate bodily needs. Indirect support for this theory comes from the many commonalities between REM sleep and wakefulness.
One of the most necessary findings of human sleep deprivation studies signify that individuals who are deprived of sleep become more efficient sleepers. In particular their sleep has a elevated equilibrium of slow-wave sleep (stages 3 & 4), which seems to help main restorative function. Perhaps it may be bare that people who take anti-depressants to resolve depression tend to get less REM-sleep and more non-REM (slow wave) sleep. Usually short sleepers normally get as much slow wave sleep as long sleepers do.
