A Data-Driven Measure of REM Sleep Propensity for Human and Rodent Sleep

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sleep Science
• Chronobiology

Background:

• Mammalian sleep involves alternating cycles of REMS and NREMS.
• The mechanisms driving NREMS-REMS cycle timing are not fully understood.
• REMS pressure, the drive for REM sleep, is a proposed factor in cycle timing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend the analysis of REMS propensity to human and rat sleep data.
• To investigate the relationship between REMS propensity and NREMS duration across species.
• To compare REMS propensity profiles in mice, rats, and humans.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of ultradian NREMS-REMS cycle data from mice, rats, and humans.
• Calculation of REMS propensity as the probability of entering REMS before accumulating more NREMS.
• Correlation analysis of REMS propensity with REMS bout duration and cycle types.

Main Results:

• REMS propensity profiles showed similar patterns across mice, rats, and humans.
• REMS propensity increased with time in NREMS, peaked, then decayed.
• Positive correlations between REMS propensity and REMS bout duration were observed in all species.

Conclusions:

• Time spent in NREMS influences REMS propensity and duration in humans and rodents.
• REMS propensity serves as a conserved mechanism regulating NREMS-REMS cycles across species.
• Despite differences in sleep architecture, fundamental sleep regulatory mechanisms are conserved.