Final answer:
Dreams during REM sleep are more vivid and complex compared to non-REM sleep dreams, which are generally less memorable and detailed. The brain wave activity in REM sleep resembles wakefulness, and the body undergoes a form of paralysis, contrasting with non-REM sleep where such paralysis does not occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
The differences between a dream during REM sleep and those in non-REM sleep are quite distinct. Dreams during REM sleep are typically more vivid and narrative-like. REM sleep, which is characterized by rapid eye movement, involves brain wave activity that is very similar to wakefulness, thus facilitating more complex dreams. Additionally, during REM sleep, the body is essentially paralyzed, except for the eyes and the muscles that control breathing. This is unlike non-REM sleep, where such paralysis is not present, and dreams are usually more fragmented or less vivid.
Non-REM sleep can be divided into three stages, each with decreasing frequency but increasing amplitude in brain wave activity. The first stage is a transitional phase into sleep, the second stage introduces sleep spindles and K-complexes, and the third stage is deep sleep, characterized by delta waves. The dreams in non-REM sleep, especially in the deeper stages, tend to be less memorable and less detailed than those during REM sleep.
Both REM and non-REM sleep play significant roles in learning and memory, and dreams may relate to life events or serve a role in mental processing. When deprived of REM sleep, individuals will later show a REM rebound, indicating the body's regulatory mechanism to restore balance in REM sleep, signifying its importance.