Prepare for the Certification in Clinical Sleep Health exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Heart rate in REM sleep is

REM sleep is characterized by autonomic instability. During this stage, dream activity is linked to rapid swings in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, causing heart rate to rise and fall in an irregular pattern. This variability means the heart rate is not steady or consistently decreased, and it certainly isn’t absent since the heart continues to beat. The irregular fluctuations contrast with the more stable, slower heart rate seen in non-REM sleep.

REM sleep is characterized by autonomic instability. During this stage, dream activity is linked to rapid swings in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, causing heart rate to rise and fall in an irregular pattern. This variability means the heart rate is not steady or consistently decreased, and it certainly isn’t absent since the heart continues to beat. The irregular fluctuations contrast with the more stable, slower heart rate seen in non-REM sleep.