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

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...

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...

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:

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...

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.

Respiratory Volumes and Capacities I

Respiratory Volumes and Capacities I

Assessing the respiratory rate and rhythm for a complete minute is crucial for evaluating the breathing pattern. Even a minor increase in the patient's average respiratory rate, by as little as three to five breaths per minute, is an early and vital indicator of respiratory distress. Patients with a respiratory rate exceeding twenty-four breaths per minute require close monitoring to determine the physiological alterations. This careful observation is essential for prompt recognition and...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Locked in Lucid Rhythms: A Case of Rhythmic Movement Disorder in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep.

Cureus·2026

Same author

Associations between weather and Plasmodium vivax malaria in an Amazonian elimination setting: a distributed lag analysis from 2017 to 2024.

Malaria journal·2026

Same author

Mapping the local effectiveness of mass drug administration for malaria using transportability methods.

Nature health·2026

Same author

Real-world efficacy and safety of omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria: Insights from the Middle East.

The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. Global·2026

Same author

Adapting reactive case detection strategies for high-risk populations to increase malaria infection detection in Aceh Province, Indonesia.

PLOS global public health·2026

Same author

Highly Effective Modulator Therapy in Cystic Fibrosis: Addressing Unusual Variants in the Middle East.

Pulmonary medicine·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Rapid Eye Movement (REM)-Predominant Central Sleep Apnea With Alpha-Delta Sleep Pattern: A Case Report.

Rafeek Kandy¹, Lubna Alhourani¹, Mateen Uzbeck¹

¹Respiratory and Allergy Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, ARE.

|July 28, 2025

Summary

This case study shows that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) effectively treats central sleep apnea (CSA) during REM sleep, even with certain medications. CPAP resolved REM-predominant CSA and improved sleep patterns.

Keywords:

alpha-delta sleep central sleep apnea cpap therapy opioid-induced central apnea pregabalin rem-predominant csa tramadol

More Related Videos

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults

Published on: January 26, 2019

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Published on: October 18, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults

Published on: January 26, 2019

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Published on: October 18, 2024

Area of Science:

Sleep Medicine
Respiratory Physiology

Background:

Central sleep apnea (CSA) typically occurs during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-predominant CSA is an uncommon clinical presentation.

Observation:

A 32-year-old male with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presented with predominantly REM-sleep central apneas.
The patient also exhibited an alpha-delta sleep pattern during slow-wave sleep.
He was taking tramadol and pregabalin for chronic back pain.

Findings:

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy at 6 cmH₂O effectively managed OSA and resolved REM-predominant central apneas.
CPAP reduced the central apnea index from 35.9/hr to 0/hr during REM sleep.
The alpha-delta sleep pattern also resolved with CPAP therapy, despite ongoing medication use.

Implications:

This case highlights the efficacy of standard CPAP in treating REM-predominant CSA.
It suggests complex interactions between medications, sleep architecture, and respiratory control.
Further research into pharmacologically induced sleep-disordered breathing is warranted.