Rapid Eye Movement Sleep

Book excerpt: This reference also includes nine color plates. Written by leading international scientists in the field, this comprehensive and up-to-date reference provides detailed coverage of various aspects of rapid eye movement sleep (REMS)-including phylogeny and evolution, ontogeny, neurophysiological and neurochemical phenomena, molecular processes, behavioral and physiological changes due to deprivation, and hypotheses on the neurodynamics of REMS. Examining the relationship between the neocortex in mammals and birds in the evolution of REM sleep, Rapid Eye Movement Sleep considers the roles of REMS in the maturation of the brain reveals a new theory that challenges the assumption that REM is solely initiated by bulbar mechanisms in intact animals explores experimental studies of REMS atonia and the mechanisms underlying tonic and phasic muscle atonia describes the cellular and molecular mechanisms and function of pontine ponto-geniculo-occipatal waves during REMS details the role of nitric oxide in the regulation of REMS summarizes new evidence on which neurotransmitters are responsible for the REMS generating mechanism presents an overview of several endogenous sleep substances that may positively or negatively regulate REMS and more. Rapid Eye Movement Sleep serves as essential reading for all researchers and clinicians in the study of sleep science, particularly physiologists and biologists; neurologists, neuropsychiatrists, psychiatrists, and psychologists; anesethiologists; and pharmacologists.