Question

Tamara has taken part in a three-day study in which she was awakened every time she went in to REM sleep. Now that she is home sleeping without interference, it is likely that she will: A. exhibit psychotic symptoms for a few nights. B. experience severe insomnia for about a week. C. spend extra time in REM sleep for a few nights. D. spend less time in REM sleep for a few nights.

Short answer

Answer: Tamara is most likely to spend extra time in REM sleep for a few nights to make up for her REM sleep deprivation during the study.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding REM sleep

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is a phase of the sleep cycle where dreaming occurs, and the brain is highly active. This phase is essential for re-energizing the brain and maintaining memory functions.

Consider the sleeping patterns in the study

Tamara was disrupted during her REM sleep for three nights. This resulted in her not getting the essential benefits of REM sleep during those nights.

Analyzing the effects of REM sleep deprivation

When an individual is deprived of REM sleep, the body will compensate by going through a process called "REM rebound," in which the person will spend more time in REM sleep during subsequent nights to catch up on the REM sleep they missed.

Select the correct option based on the REM rebound effect

Considering the REM rebound effect, the correct option is: C. spend extra time in REM sleep for a few nights. So, when Tamara returns home and sleeps without interference, she is most likely to spend extra time in REM sleep for a few nights to make up for her REM sleep deprivation during the study.

Key concepts

REM rebound

After experiencing REM sleep deprivation, a phenomenon known as REM rebound typically occurs. This process signifies the body's attempt to normalize sleep patterns by increasing the proportion of REM sleep in subsequent nights.

When someone like Tamara is deprived of REM sleep, which is typical during periods of stress, illness, or as part of a sleep study, their brain responds by prioritizing this critical phase of the sleep cycle once the opportunity arises. This compensation can lead to unusually long and frequent REM periods when uninterrupted sleep is resumed. This rebound effect not only restores the balance in sleep architecture but also supports cognitive and emotional health.

Sleep cycle

The sleep cycle refers to the progression of different stages of sleep that we cycle through multiple times each night. Broadly, we can categorize sleep into two main types: REM sleep and non-REM sleep, which includes multiple stages itself.

A complete sleep cycle lasts about 90 to 110 minutes, starting with non-REM sleep and transitioning to REM sleep before beginning again. The initial non-REM stages involve light sleep and the transition into the deepest sleep, whereas REM sleep is characterized by active brain patterns, eye movements, and dreaming. Disruptions to any part of this cycle, particularly the REM stage, can affect overall sleep quality and the benefits we draw from sleep, such as memory consolidation and emotional regulation.

Memory functions during sleep

The relationship between memory functions and sleep, especially REM sleep, is profound. Sleep serves as a critical period for the consolidation of memories; it's the process where short-term memories are transformed into long-term ones.

During REM sleep, the brain actively rehearses and processes the experiences and information gathered throughout the day. This is not just about storing facts but also involves making connections between different pieces of information, which aids creative problem-solving. Moreover, REM sleep appears to be pivotal for emotional memory processing, which helps in modulating the emotional tone of the memories. For students like Tamara, adequate REM sleep is crucial for learning efficiency and emotional well-being due to its restorative effects on the brain's memory functions.