Question

As a volunteer in a sleep experiment, Isaac was awakened each time he entered REM sleep for two nights. On the third night, he was allowed to sleep normally. We would expect that REM deprivation would:

a) Increase REM sleep on the third night
b) Have no impact on REM sleep
c) Decrease REM sleep on the third night
d) Lead to sleepwalking

Answer 1

After being deprived of REM sleep for two nights, we would expect Isaac to experience increased REM sleep on the third night, a phenomenon known as REM rebound, which supports the importance of REM in sleep homeostasis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question explores the impact of REM sleep deprivation on subsequent sleep patterns. When an individual like Isaac is deprived of REM sleep, the body exhibits a compensatory increase in REM sleep on subsequent nights when sleep is allowed undisturbed. This phenomenon is known as REM rebound. Therefore, we would expect that REM deprivation would increase REM sleep on the third night, offering support to the hypothesis that REM sleep plays a crucial role in homeostatic regulation of sleep patterns. Those researching or studying this effect believe that more time spent in REM sleep following deprivation could contribute to cognitive function and memory formation, evidencing the importance of REM sleep in overall health.