When does REM Sleep, crucial for memory processing, become more prominent in the sleep cycle?
Answer
In the later cycles closer to morning wake-up time
REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep is the stage highly associated with cognitive functions such as emotional regulation and complex memory processing and consolidation. While Deep Sleep is prioritized early on for physical recovery, the distribution of sleep stages shifts as the night wears on. REM periods progressively lengthen, making them significantly more prominent and extended during the later sleep cycles that occur closer to the typical morning wake-up time. If an individual consistently shortens their sleep duration, they disproportionately deprive themselves of this critical later-stage REM sleep, potentially impairing learning and emotional balance achieved during the night.
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