The biology and function of rapid eye movement sleep.
Rapid eye movement sleep, a stage of sleep that appears to be present in all marsupial and terrestrial placental mammals, was first identified in 1953. Although the brainstem mechanisms responsible for its generation have been clarified, the function of rapid eye movement sleep remains elusive. Recent findings suggest a role in memory processing.
Department of Physiology and Psychology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
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Winson
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*