Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...

Stages of Sleep

Stages of Sleep

Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...

Understanding Sleep

Understanding Sleep

Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Perspectives on the definition of 'evidence': a qualitative interview study among interest-holders.

BMJ evidence-based medicine·2026

Same author

A quest for a histaminergic or orexinergic biomarker for sudden infant death syndrome.

Pediatric research·2026

Same author

Tuning the Magnetic Anisotropy and Energy Barrier of Sulfido-Bridged Dy<sub>2</sub> Field-Induced Single-Molecule Magnets through Solvent Ligation.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Seasonal sleep-wake patterns of plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi).

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology·2026

Same author

The Ontogenetic Development of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Early Life and Its Regulatory Mechanisms.

International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·2026

Same author

Impaired theory of mind in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review of etiological debates.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2025

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

Published on: October 24, 2019

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep during Early Life: A Comprehensive Narrative Review.

Hai-Lin Chen¹, Jin-Xian Gao^1,2, Yu-Nong Chen¹

¹Departments of Neuroscience, Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 199 Donggang Xi Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

|October 27, 2022

Summary

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is crucial for early brain development and maturation. Disturbances in infant REM sleep are linked to various neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting its importance.

Keywords:

childhood infant neurodevelopmental disorders rapid eye movement (REM) sleep sleep ontogeny

More Related Videos

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

Eye Movement Monitoring of Memory

Eye Movement Monitoring of Memory

Published on: August 15, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 23, 2025

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

Published on: October 24, 2019

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

Eye Movement Monitoring of Memory

Eye Movement Monitoring of Memory

Published on: August 15, 2010

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Sleep Science

Background:

The ontogenetic sleep hypothesis posits REM sleep as primitive and essential for central nervous system maturation.
Abundant REM sleep in early life supports brain development, including neuronal differentiation, migration, myelination, and synaptic plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of early-life REM sleep in neurodevelopment.
To explore the connection between REM sleep disturbances and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Main Methods:

Comprehensive review of behavioral and polysomnographic studies in humans and mammals.
Analysis of findings on REM sleep alterations in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Main Results:

Early-life REM sleep plays a vital role in optimizing brain states for maturation and neuronal activity.
REM sleep disturbances are a common characteristic of many neurodevelopmental disorders, including narcolepsy, autism, and ADHD.

Conclusions:

Early-life REM sleep is critical for normal brain development.
Investigating REM sleep disturbances can provide insights into the mechanisms and functions of neurodevelopmental diseases.