What stage of sleep is interrupted when one is suddenly awakened during a Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep dream?

From the Guidelines

When suddenly woken during a dream, you're most likely interrupting the third stage of sleep, specifically the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep stage, as indicated by the most recent study on REM sleep behavior disorder 1. This stage of sleep is characterized by rapid eye movements, increased brain activity, temporary muscle paralysis, and vivid dreaming, as noted in the study on the management of REM sleep behavior disorder 1. REM sleep typically begins about 90 minutes after falling asleep and recurs every 90-120 minutes throughout the night, with longer periods in the latter half of sleep. Some key characteristics of REM sleep include:

• Rapid eye movements
• Increased brain activity
• Temporary muscle paralysis
• Vivid dreaming If you're frequently interrupted during REM sleep, it can lead to sleep deprivation symptoms such as daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating, as suggested by the study on the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder 1. To improve sleep quality and reduce interruptions:

1. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
2. Create a relaxing bedtime routine
3. Ensure your sleeping environment is dark, quiet, and cool
4. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and large meals close to bedtime
5. Limit screen time before sleep Understanding sleep cycles can help you plan your sleep duration to minimize the likelihood of waking during REM sleep, potentially improving overall sleep quality and daytime functioning, as recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 1.

From the Research

Stage of Sleep Interrupted During REM Sleep Dream

When one is suddenly awakened during a Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep dream, the stage of sleep that is interrupted is the REM sleep stage itself.

• REM sleep is characterized by brain activity similar to that of being awake, and dreams occur during this stage 2.
• The interruption of REM sleep can occur when the brain is in the process of transitioning from REM sleep to wakefulness, which is a normal part of the sleep-wake cycle 2.
• Research suggests that the brain uses REM sleep to help wake itself up after a sufficient amount of sleep, and the last awakening during a night's sleep usually occurs in a REM episode during or at the end of a dream 2.

Characteristics of REM Sleep Interruption

The interruption of REM sleep can result in various phenomena, including:

• Lucid dreaming, which occurs when one is conscious during dreaming 3.
• False awakening, which occurs when one is dreaming but believes they have woken up 3.
• Sleep paralysis, which is characterized by skeletal muscle atonia and occurs mainly during awakening or falling asleep 3.
• Out-of-body experiences, which are subjective sensations of 'leaving the physical body' 3.

Brain Mechanisms Controlling REM Sleep and Dreaming

Research suggests that REM sleep and dreaming are controlled by different brain mechanisms:

• The cholinergic brain stem mechanisms that control the REM state can generate the psychological phenomena of dreaming through the mediation of a second, probably dopaminergic, forebrain mechanism 4.
• Dreaming can be manipulated by dopamine agonists and antagonists with no concomitant change in REM frequency, duration, and density 4.