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Sleep Cycle
The sleep cycle: A sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes and during that time we move through five stages of sleep. The first four stages make up our non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and the fifth stage is when rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs. NREM sleep: Across these four stages we move from very light sleep during Stage 1 down to very deep sleep in Stage 4. It is very difficult to wake someone who is in Stage 4 sleep. Across NREM sleep, we have little muscle activity and our eyes do not typically move, but all of our muscles retain their ability to function. REM sleep: As the name would imply – during this final stage of sleep, we have bursts of rapid eye movements. This is the stage of sleep in which most dreaming occurs. Our eyes are not constantly moving, but they do dart back and forth, up and down. These eye movements may be related to visual images of dreams, but that is not confirmed, and in general, the reason for these eye movements is still a mystery. Although our eyes are moving rapidly, the muscles that move our bodies are paralyzed (other important muscles, such as our heart and diaphragm continue to function normally).
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Researchers find cannabis is being used as a sleep-aid in Colorado. Many Americans struggle with sleep disturbances -- s ...Written By: Julia TraversNOV 12, 2019Health & Medicine
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Blue light caused damage even in flies that did not have eyes, and if given a choice, fruit flies will avoid blue light.Written By: Carmen LeitchOCT 25, 2019Neuroscience
It is during sleep when the brain reviews all of the information it received during the day, and either cements i ...Written By: Amanda MikyskaOCT 18, 2019Genetics & Genomics
A few rare people can get by with less sleep than the rest of us; after only four to six hours they are well-rested.Written By: Carmen LeitchOCT 15, 2019Cell & Molecular Biology
Researchers are learning more about why bright light wakes us up.Written By: Carmen Leitch
NOV 24, 2020
Cancer
Did you know sleeping is great? Apparently, getting a full eight hours every night can make you look fabulous and solve
...
Written By:
Jasper Cantrell
OCT 16, 2020
Cancer
We all know how horrible it feels to have a bad night of sleep. That feeling is only intensified with jet lag because ou
...
Written By:
Kathryn DeMuth Sullivan
OCT 03, 2020
Clinical & Molecular DX
Researchers at Harvard have discovered a novel diagnostic marker of dementia for identifying undiagnosed patients or tho
...
Written By:
Tara Fernandes
SEP 21, 2020
Cannabis Sciences
Many notice that after regularly smoking cannabis, it takes more and more to feel its effects- if any at all. While abst
...
Written By:
Annie Lennon
SEP 21, 2020
Neuroscience
A growing body of research stresses the importance of getting a good night's sleep- whether it's to bolster your
...
Written By:
Annie Lennon
SEP 16, 2020
Neuroscience
From a meta-analysis, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have found that men and women tend to have differe
...
Written By:
Annie Lennon
SEP 06, 2020
Chemistry & Physics
Warm water pelagic snails don’t get much attention, but they certainly should. The snails move between ocean surfa
...
Written By:
Kathryn DeMuth Sullivan
AUG 27, 2020
Genetics & Genomics
Some animals don't need a new wardrobe to change with the seasons, and scientists have now learned more about how they d
...
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
MAY 08, 2020
Cannabis Sciences
Upon quitting cannabis, many notice their dreams become a lot more vivid and intense. But why? To answer that ques
...
Written By:
Annie Lennon
MAY 06, 2020
Neuroscience
Researchers have found that while we sleep, our brains are busy processing our waking experiences. A process called &lsq
...
Written By:
Annie Lennon
APR 30, 2020
Cannabis Sciences
Studies show that cannabis can improve the duration and quality of sleep. It’s thus no surprise that many use the
...
Written By:
Annie Lennon
APR 13, 2020
Microbiology
The majority of living organisms on Earth have adapted in some way to the daily cycle of night and day.
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
MAR 03, 2020
Cardiology
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston have found that going to sleep at different times each night
...
Written By:
Annie Lennon
FEB 17, 2020
Cell & Molecular Biology
Some individuals are morning people to the extreme. Some genetic mutations give the body clock a 20 instead of 24-hour c
...
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
FEB 03, 2020
Neuroscience
Mood disorders, like Bipolar, Major Depressive Disorder, and Schizophrenia, among others, are difficult to define clinic
...
Written By:
Amanda Mikyska
JAN 16, 2020
Cell & Molecular Biology
Scientists have learned more about how sleep gets us ready to face the challenges of the day.
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
DEC 12, 2019
Microbiology
Sleeping sickness is a threat to public health in some parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
DEC 04, 2019
Cannabis Sciences
Researchers find cannabis is being used as a sleep-aid in Colorado. Many Americans struggle with sleep disturbances -- s
...
Written By:
Julia Travers
NOV 12, 2019
Health & Medicine
Do you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep? You're not alone! In fact, you're likely one of the esti
...
Written By:
Tiffany Dazet
NOV 04, 2019
Neuroscience
Scientists at Harvard Medical School show new evidence that the key to living longer is to get plenty of sleep. &
...
Written By:
Amanda Mikyska
OCT 29, 2019
Genetics & Genomics
Blue light caused damage even in flies that did not have eyes, and if given a choice, fruit flies will avoid blue light.
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
OCT 25, 2019
Neuroscience
It is during sleep when the brain reviews all of the information it received during the day, and either cements i
...
Written By:
Amanda Mikyska
OCT 18, 2019
Genetics & Genomics
A few rare people can get by with less sleep than the rest of us; after only four to six hours they are well-rested.
Written By:
Carmen Leitch
OCT 15, 2019
Cell & Molecular Biology
Researchers are learning more about why bright light wakes us up.
Written By:
Carmen Leitch