What is REM Behavior Disorder?
REM behavior disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder, or parasomnia, that occurs during REM sleep. A person with RBD will act out his or her dreams, often in a violent physical manner, and this can include loud shouting or grunting. There is no known cause for REM behavior disorder, which was first described in 1986. Sleep has two main phases, which are NREM sleep and REM sleep. NREM sleep, or non-rapid eye movement sleep, has four stages and each stage has its own unique characteristics. REM sleep involves several physiological changes including increased brain activity, eye movement, accelerated respiration and muscle relaxation. This muscle relaxation includes paralysis of major voluntary muscles while the increased brain activity causes dreams. In people who suffer from REM behavior disorder, dreams are present during REM sleep but the muscle paralysis is not. This allows them to act out their dreams intensely and sometimes violently. During REM sleep, the behaviors of a person with RBD
REM behavior disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder, or parasomnia, that occurs during REM sleep. A person with RBD will act out his or her dreams, often in a violent physical manner, and this can include loud shouting or grunting. There is no known cause for REM behavior disorder, which was first described in 1986. Sleep has two main phases, which are NREM sleep and REM sleep. NREM sleep, or non-rapid eye movement sleep, has four stages and each stage has its own unique characteristics. REM sleep involves several physiological changes including increased brain activity, eye movement, accelerated respiration and muscle relaxation. This muscle relaxation includes paralysis of major voluntary muscles while the increased brain activity causes dreams. In people who suffer from REM behavior disorder, dreams are present during REM sleep but the muscle paralysis is not. This allows them to act out their dreams intensely and sometimes violently. During REM sleep, the behaviors of a person with RBD
