Final answer:
Sleepwalking and sleep talking are most commonly associated with stage 3 sleep, characterized by deep sleep and delta wave patterns, not REM sleep.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of REM Sleep
The subject in question pertains to the characteristics of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, particularly in the context of brainwave patterns.
The options provided are characteristics generally associated with REM sleep, but the presence of Delta waves is not a characteristic of this sleep phase.
Rapid eye movement, vivid dreams, increased heart rate, and paralysis are all features of REM sleep.
However, Delta waves are characterized by low frequency and high amplitude and are indicative of deep, slow-wave sleep, specifically NREM (non-REM) stage 3 sleep.
The presence of Delta waves during sleep signifies a period of deep restorative sleep, whereas REM sleep is marked by brain waves very similar to those during wakefulness, along with muscle paralysis, except for the muscles that control breathing and circulation.
Given these details, the correct answer to the question 'Which of the following is not a characteristic of REM sleep?' is (E) Delta waves.