The Significance of Rapid-Eye-Movement Sleep for Regulating Emotions and Obtaining Long-term Memory
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Abstract
Humans spend a great deal of time sleeping and dreaming. While the benefits of good sleep hygiene are well-known, fewer appreciate the importance of dreaming. This paper investigates the necessity of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep (dreaming) by examining scientific research articles’ methods and results. These scientific experiments examine the genetic drawback of REM sleep and the outcomes of REM sleep deprivation on emotional regulation and long-term memory. REM sleep deprivation is becoming a modern epidemic and many substances consumed during the day can adversely affect sleep. Nicotine, antidepressants, sleep medication, and cannabis consumption can all lead to REM sleep deprivation, which negatively influences emotional regulation and long-term memory. Paradoxically, these substances are often used to help one fall asleep faster.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Oyku Celik
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons License All articles published in Annals of Medicine and Medical Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Oyku Celik, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States.
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