What kind of patterns in the EEG are associated with REM sleep?

In REM sleep, the EEG exhibits mixed frequency low voltage activity that often resembles the brain's activity during wakefulness. This pattern is characterized by low amplitude and a fast frequency, which includes bursts of beta waves, theta waves, and occasional sawtooth waves. This mix of frequencies indicates a state of heightened brain activity, similar to when a person is awake and alert, despite the individual being in a state of sleep.

The presence of these patterns in REM sleep facilitates various cognitive processes, including dreaming, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation, underscoring the unique role of REM sleep in overall sleep architecture. In contrast, other sleep stages exhibit different EEG patterns, such as high amplitude slow waves in deep sleep and alpha waves during relaxed wakefulness, but these are not representative of REM sleep. Thus, the identification of mixed frequency low voltage activity is critical for recognizing REM sleep.