REM Sleep: A Necessity for Learning and Memory

Sleep consists of various stages, all of which are vital in getting enough rest and feeling rejuvenated upon waking up. One might argue that REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is the most popular and researched stage of sleep, as this is the time when we dream. However, there are actually a number of different reasons why REM sleep is super important to our overall health. Most importantly, this stage of sleep is linked to our ability to learn and retain memories (1). If not enough time is spent in the REM phase, focusing on your responsibilities and completing work can become quite the challenge. So, let’s dive in and learn what this area of sleep is all about!

So What Happens During REM?

“REM” stands for Rapid Eye Movement, because the eyes areliterally moving at a quick pace underneath the eyelids (1). During this phase, the body will experience an increase in brain activity and heart rate. The sudden onset of stimulation within the brain that occurs during this stage is actually what allows your mind to dream! Even though the act of dreaming is a very complex topic that is still being heavily studied, we do know that this super interesting part of sleeping aligns with the process our brain goes through in preparation to absorb knowledge. 

REM for Learning and Memory 

During REM sleep, areas of the brain are stimulated that correspond to our abilities to retain information. This means that if we didn’t remain in the REM phase long enough, the ability to focus and concentrate throughout the day would become extremely difficult. Each of the other phases correlates to other areas of the body, such as repair and recovery, but we need REM to be productive (1). We often hear that reading, word games, or other activities that involve critical thinking are great resources for brain function; so, just think of REM sleep as being one of them - but for when you’re not awake! 

Takeaways

If you’re spending  the proper amount of time in each phase of sleep, then there’s a high probability that you’re also experiencing a sufficient quantity of sleep, too. But what if you’re not? Fortunately, there are products on the market that can assist you in this dilemma - such as Nite Nite! 

Sometimes, melatonin supplements can contain too much or too little of the famous sleep hormone, which can cause you to either sleeptoo long, or not long enough. But in our super popular, Jasmine Tea flavored sleep gummies, there is just the right amount of melatonin to keep you asleep for the right number of hours. This means that you’ll be sound asleep throughout each phase, for the normal amount of time it takes to feel alive!

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Sources 

1. https://valleysleepcenter.com/3-things-you-should-know-about-rem-sleep/#:~:text=REM%20sleep%20is%20important%20to,and%20making%20or%20retaining%20memories.