Kerry Ryffel and Emily Wild

Background 1952: Eugene Aserinsky observed changes in eye movements as babies sleep Is faster eye movement associated with dreaming? Coauthor Nathaniel Kleitman joined expanded the study to include adults.

Background Continued REM sleep: rapid eye movement sleep or dreaming sleep Four Stages of Sleep: Stage 1: the lightest Stage 4: the deepest Sleep cycles through the four stages, REM sleep several times a night.

William Dement’s Study 8 subjects were monitored with electrodes while they slept. Over several nights, the subjects were awakened each time they began dreaming. Then, the subjects were given several recovery nights in which they were monitored but not disturbed.

William Dement’s Study Control recovery-the procedure was repeated, but subjects were awakened after a dream ended. Eliminated the possibility that effects were due to being awakened several times in the night.

Findings As study progressed, subjects dreamt more often. Increase in dreaming time during recovery nights Anxiety, difficulty concentrating, weight gain Brain attempts to make up for lost dream time-REM rebound effect

Significance and Recent Research Drugs/alcohol suppress REM Research with its origins in this study suggest that there is a greater synthesis of proteins during REM