Which sleep stage is characterized by increased brain activity and blood flow relative to wakefulness?

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Multiple Choice

Which sleep stage is characterized by increased brain activity and blood flow relative to wakefulness?

REM sleep features brain activity that closely resembles wakefulness, with increased cerebral blood flow and a desynchronized, mixed-frequency EEG pattern. This level of neural activity is higher than in the other sleep stages, even though the body is effectively paralyzed and dreaming is common. Non-REM sleep shows progressively lower brain activity and reduced metabolic activity, while Stage 2 is a lighter non-REM stage marked by sleep spindles and K-complexes rather than a rise in brain metabolism. Wake represents the conscious state with the highest overall brain activity, not a sleep stage. Thus, the description of increased brain activity and blood flow relative to wakefulness best fits REM sleep.

REM sleep features brain activity that closely resembles wakefulness, with increased cerebral blood flow and a desynchronized, mixed-frequency EEG pattern. This level of neural activity is higher than in the other sleep stages, even though the body is effectively paralyzed and dreaming is common. Non-REM sleep shows progressively lower brain activity and reduced metabolic activity, while Stage 2 is a lighter non-REM stage marked by sleep spindles and K-complexes rather than a rise in brain metabolism. Wake represents the conscious state with the highest overall brain activity, not a sleep stage. Thus, the description of increased brain activity and blood flow relative to wakefulness best fits REM sleep.

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