Slumber under pressure: REM sleep and stress response
Bernhard Schaefke1, Jingfei Li2, Binghao Zhao1
1CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Progress in Neurobiology
|April 24, 2025
Summary
REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement sleep) helps animals adapt to stress by simulating threat responses and regulating emotions. This review explores its adaptive functions and neural basis, offering insights into human sleep patterns.
Area of Science:
- Comparative physiology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Sleep is a fundamental biological process vital for survival across the animal kingdom.
- REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement sleep) is a distinct sleep stage characterized by unique brain activity and physiological changes.
- Understanding the adaptive functions of REM sleep is crucial for comprehending animal behavior and physiology, especially in response to environmental challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the adaptive functions of REM sleep in stress adaptation in animals.
- To explore the role of REM sleep in memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and threat processing.
- To investigate the neural mechanisms connecting stress responses with REM sleep.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing current research on REM sleep and stress.
- Analysis of neurobiological and behavioral studies across various animal models.
- Exploration of evolutionary underpinnings and environmental influences on REM sleep.
Main Results:
- REM sleep may serve as a safe, offline 'rehearsal' space for simulating threat responses.
- REM sleep contributes to emotional balance and processing of stressful experiences.
- Environmental factors like predation risk and social dynamics significantly modulate REM sleep patterns.
Conclusions:
- REM sleep plays a critical adaptive role in enhancing survival by optimizing stress responses and maintaining emotional equilibrium in animals.
- The study of animal REM sleep offers valuable insights into human sleep disorders and responses to modern stressors.
- There is a complex interplay between stress, immunity, and REM sleep, with significant evolutionary implications.
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