In a study, researchers monitored EEG, EMG, and EOG recordings from sleeping participants across the night. They observed periods of fast, low-amplitude brain waves accompanied by rapid eye movements and near-paralysis of skeletal muscles. When awakened during these periods, 87 percent of participants reported vivid story-like dreams, compared with 25 percent in other stages.
The stage described in the study is best identified as
- Acheck_circle
REM sleep
- B
Stage N1 (light NREM)
- C
Stage N3 (slow-wave sleep)
- D
Stage N2 (with sleep spindles)
Explanation
Fast desynchronized EEG, rapid eye movements, atonia, and vivid narrative dreaming are hallmark features of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.