{"id":26033,"date":"2020-12-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.nystquexulva.site\/what-does-rem-stand-for\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T22:50:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T02:50:42","slug":"what-does-rem-stand-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nystquexulva.site\/blog\/what-does-rem-stand-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is REM Sleep Important?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

REM sleep is a recurring stage of sleep associated with vivid dreaming, emotional processing, memory, and learning. REM periods become longer toward morning, which is one reason consistently cutting sleep short can reduce REM opportunity. Healthy sleep includes both REM and non-REM stages; neither should be treated as the single ‘most important’ stage.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good night’s sleep means more than just feeling refreshed when that alarm goes off. Quality sleep helps your body recover from the day, lowers your risk of a variety of diseases, and even boosts your immune system<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each stage of sleep<\/a> plays a vital role in creating a healthier, happier, and more well-rested you. We’ve already detailed everything you need to know about deep sleep<\/a>, but why is REM sleep important? Below, we examine just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does REM stand for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The acronym REM stands for rapid eye movement. You may have looked over at your partner and noticed their closed eyelids moving rapidly from side to side (hence the name).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

REM sleep lasts for about 25% of the night and cycles with NREM (non-rapid eye movement sleep). It typically starts after 90 minutes of uninterrupted sleep, and the first cycle lasts for around 10 minutes. From there, each subsequent REM sleep gets longer until the final period of one hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Importance of REM sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the American Sleep Association, your brain is more active during REM sleep<\/a> than during other sleep stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

REM sleep is the type of sleep associated with dreaming<\/a> and vital neurological development, like retaining memories and information from the day. This is especially critical for babies. As you get older, less of your time is spent in the REM cycle of sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One study reported by Psych Central found that REM sleep can affect the ability to develop and retain learning skills<\/a>. \u201cPeople taught a skill and then deprived of non-REM sleep could recall what they had learned after sleeping, while people deprived of REM sleep could not,” according to the research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the research says<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientific studies consistently highlight the essential functions of rapid eye movement sleep in cognitive maintenance and emotional regulation. Research indicates that this active brain state supports procedural memory consolidation, emotional processing, and neural plasticity. Studies involving sleep deprivation show that lacking adequate REM cycles can significantly impair cognitive performance, mood stability, and the ability to process complex information learned throughout the day. Furthermore, neuroimaging research demonstrates that brain activity during this phase resembles waking patterns, underscoring its unique role in mental restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting more REM sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There’s no such thing as too much REM sleep. However, it’s not the easiest goal to achieve. That said, there are a few things you can do to try to get more REM sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n