![]() "It is thought that REM sleep is involved in re-activating memories and helping cement pathways in the brain between short-term and long-term memory formation," she explains. Kelly Baron, a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the division of public health at the University of Utah, offers a similar sentiment on the purpose of dreams, which mostly occur during rapid eye movement (or REM) sleep. Dreaming would be a part of that process. If that person moved to another area where there are no lions but plenty of domestic cats, their brain would need to forget certain details about lions in order to make room for new ones about other cats. Therefore, that person would need to remember specific characteristics of a lion, like its smell, so that they can avoid the danger of running into one. A person living around lions would likely categorize cats as dangerous. He gives the example of a person who lives around lions (strange, I know, but bear with me). Better dreams and better sleep are only a phone call away.What Pelayo means is that, in layman's terms, your brain needs to be able to reprioritize information depending on how relevant it is to you at a given time. Call our office today at 63 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced sleep professionals. Contact Silent Night Therapy for Better Sleep TodayĪre you worried about how sleep apnea is impacting your health? At Silent Night Therapy, we want to help you get a better night’s rest. Sleep deprivation can also lead to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Disrupting REM sleep can interfere with memory formation and disrupt the brain’s ability to generate new cells. However, nightmares aren’t the only side effect of sleep apnea. Experiencing disturbing dreams can cause anxiety in some people, making bedtime stressful instead of relaxing. It could be due to the lack of oxygen or disruption of a person’s overall sleep cycle. Some studies suggest those with sleep apnea are more likely to experience nightmares, although the reason for this is still unclear. ![]() When a person’s sleep cycles are continually interrupted, they may rarely enter the REM sleep stage. Often, during an episode of sleep apnea, a person wakes up completely, or their sleep cycle is interrupted. It occurs when an individual’s airway becomes blocked by the tongue, improperly relaxed throat muscles, or the soft palate. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most commonly-occurring form of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by interruptions in a person’s breathing during the night. The Relationship Between Sleep Apnea and Dreams Most people move through four to six sleep cycles per night. All stages combined make up one sleep cycle. The first three non-REM sleep stages are stage 1 light sleep, stage 2 light sleep, and stage 3 deep sleep. Most people experience their first REM sleep cycle about 60 to 90 minutes after they fall asleep. Unlike other sleep stages, when brain waves slow down, the brain is highly active during REM sleep. Beyond dreaming, REM sleep is crucial for brain development, emotional processing, and brain functions.ĭuring REM sleep, the eyes rapidly move back and forth, the heart rate increases, and breathing becomes irregular. REM sleep is closely associated with dreaming and memory consolidation. Most dreams occur during the rapid eye movement or REM stage of sleep. ![]() It can affect dreams, turning sweet slumber into a nightmare. ![]() Now, studies indicate sleep apnea impacts more than just the quality of your sleep. Sleep apnea significantly affects a person’s ability to get enough good-quality sleep. When we can’t achieve this state of sleep nightly, it has a detrimental impact on our well-being. One thing we do know about dreams is that the state of sleep known as REM sleep, when you experience the most vivid dreams, is vital to physical and mental health. What are dreams? The mental images and movies that play out in our heads each night are still relatively mysterious. ![]()
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