Rem sleep

REM sleep

REM sleep stands for rapid eye movement sleep and is one of the main stages of the sleep cycle. During REM you often have vivid dreams and your eyes move quickly under your closed lids. Your brain is very active in REM, almost as active as when you are awake, while most of your body is temporarily paralyzed to stop you acting out dreams. This stage helps process emotions and consolidate procedural and emotional memories so learning feels more permanent. REM also plays a role in maintaining a healthy balance of brain chemicals and supporting brain development in children. Missing or fragmenting REM can leave you feeling irritable, forgetful, and less able to cope with stress. Certain medications, alcohol, sleep disorders, and irregular sleep schedules can reduce REM sleep or change its timing. Because REM happens in cycles that lengthen overnight, getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep increases your chances of getting enough REM. Improving sleep habits, keeping regular sleep hours, and treating underlying sleep problems can help restore healthy REM patterns. If someone consistently feels unrested despite sleeping enough, it may be worth talking to a clinician who can check whether REM or other sleep stages are being disturbed.