REM Sleep: It's About Eyes, Not Dreams

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between REM sleep and dreaming, exploring recent findings that suggest REM sleep may not be the sole period for dreaming and that its physiological functions may differ from psychological ones. The scope includes theoretical implications and interpretations of brain mechanisms involved in sleep.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that recent research indicates REM sleep is not the only time dreams occur, suggesting a purely physiological function for rapid eye movement.
  • Others argue that different brain mechanisms control dreaming and REM sleep, with evidence that damage to the pons can stop REM activity without affecting dreaming, while frontal lobe damage can halt dreams without stopping REM.
  • A participant highlights the potential for a causal rather than mutually dependent relationship between REM sleep and dreaming.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between REM sleep and dreaming, with no consensus reached on the implications of the new findings.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to specific brain mechanisms and their roles, but lacks detailed exploration of the assumptions behind these claims and the definitions of terms used.

zoobyshoe
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Apparently they have been coming up with new information in the past few years that indicates REM sleep is not actually the only time we dream during sleep, nor does it seem to be the result of dreaming. This particular article makes an interesting case for the rapid eye mevement having a purely physiological (non-psychological) function:

[Journal:Spring:98] REM: It's About Eyes, Not Dreams
Address:http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/news/journal/journal-o/archives/jour_v18no2_0006.html
 
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I haven't read this whole paper, but it looks quite interesting:

DREAMING AND REM SLEEP ARE CONTROLLED BY DIFFERENT BRAIN MECHANISMS
Address:http://goodelyfe.healingwell.com/dreams/REM art.htm

His main point seems to be that REM is controlled by a part of the brain called the pons which, if damaged can cease REM activity in a person without ceasing their dreams. Conversely, certain kind of frontal lobe damage can stop people's dreams without stopping rapid eye movement.

It may be that the link between REM and dreams is casual, rather than mutually dependent.
 
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link: http://goodelyfe.healingwell.com/dreams/REM%20art.htm

(fixed from above)
 
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Originally posted by firefly
link: http://goodelyfe.healingwell.com/dreams/REM%20art.htm

(fixed from above)
Thanks, ƒireƒly. I forgot to check if it worked.
 
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