Question

If you are in the middle of a dream, which sleep stage are you MOST likely in? (Hint: Refer to the sleep cycle graph in the outline of the "Sleep, Dreams, and Consciousness" lecture.)

a) Stage 1
b) Stage 2
c) REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep
d) Stage 4

Answer 1

You are most likely in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep if you are in the midst of a dream because this is the sleep stage in which dreaming typically occurs.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you are in the middle of a dream, you are MOST likely in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep. During REM sleep, rapid movements of the eyes occur, and brain waves are very similar to those observed during wakefulness. REM is also the period in which dreaming typically happens. In contrast, sleep spindles and K-complexes are most often associated with stage 2 sleep, which is part of non-REM (NREM) sleep. Stage 3 and stage 4 of NREM sleep are known as slow-wave sleep, which features low frequency, high amplitude delta waves and is associated with deep sleep.