In: Biology
What is REM sleep, and what role does it play in memory consolidation? Is the hippocampus, a structure known to play a role in the consolidation of memories, active during REM sleep? Might REM-related dreams be related to one's actual experiences?
The REM sleep is a period of the sleep cycle which usually occurs about 90 minutes after the person first falls asleep. It comprises of certain physiological changes like movement of the eyes, muscle relaxation, faster respiration and increased brain activity.
REM sleep helps in consolidation of long-term memories as during this sleep there is increased brain activity. REM sleep is associated with the consolidation of non-declarative memories. The increase in REM sleep leads to an increased demand in the processing of the brain which are involved in learning a new task.
The hippocampus stays active in processing memories during sleep. Certain traces of memories absorbed during wakefulness and initially stored in the hippocampus are transferred to the cortex of the brain as long-term memory during sleep.
REM related dreams might be related to one's actual experiences. Dreams are actually the attempt of the brain to make sense of random signals occurring during sleep. For some people, the last thought before going to bed may influence the content of a dream.