This article was primarily about the evolution of sleep patterns from infancy to adulthood. During infancy, Rapid-Eye Movement (REM) sleep is present as often as Non-Rapid-Eye-Movement (NREM) sleep is. REM sleep doesn’t occur in large chunks of time, but in 2-5 minute intervals. Dreaming occurs during REM sleep, at a time when heart rates, breathing levels, and other bodily functions are as high as they would be during waking hours. As a person grows older, their total REM sleep diminishes significantly from over half a night’s sleep during infancy to one-fifth by age 75. A question arises in what an infant, with so little experience, could be dreaming about. In the REM state, newborns display what is described as “sophisticated” facial expressions such as perplexity, disdain, skepticism, and mild amusement (pg. 609). This complex degree of portrayal hasn’t been noted in infants when awake.
Pretty interesting! Link is in citation.
Citation:
Roffwarg, H. P. (1966). Ontogenetic development of the human sleep-dream cycle. Science, 152(3722), 604-617. Retrieved from http://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/blumberg/Course_Docs/Seminar.2008/Readings/Roffwarg.1966.pdf
Pretty interesting! Link is in citation.
Citation:
Roffwarg, H. P. (1966). Ontogenetic development of the human sleep-dream cycle. Science, 152(3722), 604-617. Retrieved from http://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/blumberg/Course_Docs/Seminar.2008/Readings/Roffwarg.1966.pdf