Question

Which of the following statements about REM sleep is true?

A) It is the deepest stage of sleep.
B) Rapid eye movement occurs during REM sleep.
C) It is characterized by slow brain waves.
D) Nightmares are more likely to occur in REM sleep.

Answer 1

Rapid eye movement occurs during REM sleep.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about REM sleep is B) Rapid eye movement occurs during REM sleep. REM sleep is characterized by the rapid movement of the eyes under closed eyelids, as shown in Figure 4.11. It is the stage of sleep in which dreaming occurs and is often referred to as paradoxical sleep due to the combination of high brain activity and lack of muscle tone. The correct statement about REM sleep is B) Rapid eye movement occurs during REM sleep. REM sleep is characterized by the same types of brain waves as when a person is awake, which look very similar to those seen during wakefulness, and by darting movements of the eyes under closed eyelids. Unlike slow-wave or non-REM (NREM) stage 3 sleep, which is characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves and is considered the deepest sleep stage, REM sleep is associated with active brain patterns and is the period of sleep in which dreaming and nightmares are more likely to occur. Additionally, during REM sleep, there is a unique state in which the muscles are paralyzed except for those that control respiration and circulation.