AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Brain imaging studies have found, for example, that the primary visual cortex, the first part of the brain involved in consciously decoding visual signals when people are awake, shows very little activity when they are dreaming during REM sleep.

Detailed explanation-2: -During the REM stage, most muscles are paralyzed in a condition known as atonia. This keeps the legs and arms from flailing in response to dream content. Respiratory and eye muscles stay active, though, and the darting of the eyes behind closed eyelids is the inspiration for the name rapid eye movement sleep.

Detailed explanation-3: -Normally during REM sleep, the body experiences temporary paralysis of most of the body’s muscles while the brain is active and dreaming. This allows us to dream quietly and safely throughout the night. For individuals with REM sleep behavior disorder, paralysis does not occur during the REM stage.

Detailed explanation-4: -As you cycle into REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly behind closed lids, and brain waves are similar to those during wakefulness. Breath rate increases and the body becomes temporarily paralyzed as we dream.