Final answer:
Dreaming and REM sleep occur in the last stage of the sleep cycle, characterized by brain activity similar to when awake and muscle atonia. Sleep spindles and K-complexes are associated with the second stage of NREM sleep.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dreaming occurs during the REM sleep stage, which is characterized by rapid eye movements and brain wave patterns similar to wakefulness.
In this stage, despite the high brain activity, there is a notable paralysis of the voluntary muscles, called atonia, to prevent the acting out of dreams. Sleep spindles and K-complexes are most often associated with the second stage of NREM sleep.
As one progresses through the stages of sleep, brainwave activity changes dramatically.