A volunteer is hooked up and observed in a sleep laboratory. The technician is giving a tour of the facility to a group of students and points out one volunteer whose breathing has become more rapid, irregular, and shallow. In addition his limbs have become paralyzed and his eyes jerk rapidly in various directions. What stage of sleep is this volunteer in at the moment?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described indicate that the volunteer is in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is associated with irregular breathing, muscle paralysis, and rapid eye movements. Stage 1, 2, and 4 of sleep do not typically involve these characteristics.

A Volunteer Is Hooked Up and Observed in a Sleep