Uncovering the Mechanism of REM Sleep

(University of Bern, December 20, 2019)

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) is a characteristic eye movement in paradoxical sleep, that is, in the stage with high dream activity. This sleep phase has a peculiarity: Although the muscle tone of the sleeping person is completely relaxed, the eyes suddenly move back and forth. But why is this strange phenomenon useful? For decades, scientists have been trying to answer this question. Researchers from the universities of Bern and Fribourg have now discovered that certain neurons play an important role in eye movement during REM sleep. The next step is to find out what function REM sleep has.