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The Mechanics
of Dreaming
While
you are dreaming, your body undergoes noticeable changes. Your
adrenaline rises, your blood pressure increases, and you heart beats
faster. Given this hyperactivity, it should be no surprise how someone with a weak heart
can die in their sleep. Their heart may not be able to withstand
the strain and the erratic changes that their body is going through.
Dreaming takes place during REM, which
stands for
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Rapid
Eye Movement. It is thus called,
because your eyes move rapidly back and forth under the
eyelids. REM sleep takes place in the fourth stage of sleep and
accounts for 15-20% of your sleep time. From the point you fall asleep, it
takes 30 to 90 minutes before you start dreaming. You cycle through the 4
stages of sleep and may enter the REM stage 4 to 7 times in one night.
During REM, your blood pressure and heart rate fluctuate and increase. It
sounds like your body is going through a lot, but in fact, it is quite the
contrary. During REM, your bodies are completely immobile and your muscles
remain completely relaxed. You may shift in your bed throughout the night,
but when in REM, you are completely still. This is commonly known as
"REM Paralysis".
In
REM sleep, the mind is as active as it is during waking.
However, chemically it is different. REM is controlled by the excitability
level of the cholinergic neruons. Noradrenaline and seratonin are missing
in the brain when in the dream state. These chemicals allow the brain to
carry out task, solve problems and remember things. This is a reason why
you find it so hard to remember your dreams.
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