Which sleep stage shows increased and highly variable heart rate and blood pressure?

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Multiple Choice

Which sleep stage shows increased and highly variable heart rate and blood pressure?

During REM sleep the autonomic nervous system becomes highly active and unstable, leading to fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure that are both increased and variable. The brain is wake-like in REM, driving bursts of sympathetic activity alongside parasympathetic influences, which produces this erratic cardiovascular pattern. In contrast, non-REM sleep—especially the deeper stages—tends to show more stable, slower heart rate and blood pressure because autonomic activity is more subdued. Stage 2 is still part of NREM and exhibits less variability than REM. Wake sleep can have higher heart rate and blood pressure than asleep, but the hallmark pattern of marked, rapid fluctuations is specific to REM.

During REM sleep the autonomic nervous system becomes highly active and unstable, leading to fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure that are both increased and variable. The brain is wake-like in REM, driving bursts of sympathetic activity alongside parasympathetic influences, which produces this erratic cardiovascular pattern. In contrast, non-REM sleep—especially the deeper stages—tends to show more stable, slower heart rate and blood pressure because autonomic activity is more subdued. Stage 2 is still part of NREM and exhibits less variability than REM. Wake sleep can have higher heart rate and blood pressure than asleep, but the hallmark pattern of marked, rapid fluctuations is specific to REM.

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