THE BASIS OF THE BRAIN
During sleep your brain moves through five stages, going through many cycles each night. These stages help to further the bodies goal to bolster and regenerate itself. Stages one through three are named as such, and are defined as NREM, also known as Non-Rapid Eye Movement. The fourth and final stage is defined as REM, also known as Rapid Eye Movement. The REM stage is where dreaming occurs, and is most important for that. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the REM stage is the most common time of dreaming, in total making up about 20-25% of adult sleep. Dreams can last from a few seconds all the way up thirty minutes, and occur an average of four to six times per night. This would mean that the average adult is dreaming for two hours for every eight hours of sleep. While you do not always remember what you dream, they surprisingly do occur every night.
The REM stage not only associates with dreams, but also is a time for the body to process information, creates memories, and increase depleted chemicals, such as serotonin. While memory consolidation occurs in stage three, it also occurs during REM. Your emotions and emotional memories are processed and stored. Your brain also uses this time to cement information into memory, which makes REM a very important time for learning.
The REM stage not only associates with dreams, but also is a time for the body to process information, creates memories, and increase depleted chemicals, such as serotonin. While memory consolidation occurs in stage three, it also occurs during REM. Your emotions and emotional memories are processed and stored. Your brain also uses this time to cement information into memory, which makes REM a very important time for learning.
