Abstract

In this paper, the physiological features associated with the different stages of REM sleep and with what information processing researchers have called “effort” and “arousal” are compared. It is suggested that tonic REM sleep and effort involve an increase in the metabolism of cerebral glycogen, and phasic REM sleep and arousal involve the transfer of glucose from the body to the brain. Both stages of REM sleep seem to elevate cerebral glucose levels and likely result in increased ATP generation in some part(s) of the brain. It is noted that the functioning of the hippocampus depends heavily on ATP, and that this part of the brain becomes especially active during REM sleep. From this, although many details remain to be clarified, it seems clear that the primary function of REM sleep is to re-energize the brain.

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