Two-minute rapid eye movement (REM) density fluctuations in human REM sleep.
Rapid eye movement (REM) density fluctuations during REM sleep were studied in five healthy young adults (23-26 years of age). Appropriate electro-oculographic (EOG) montage and automated EOG analysis enabled the detection of horizontal, vertical, and oblique REMs. REM density time series based on these REMs were formed for all the REM periods of the subjects. Autoregressive (AR) spectral analysis of the REM density time series estimated periodicities in the range of 1.7-2.4 min for 14 of the 16 REM periods analyzed, regardless of duration or number of REMs. Four subjects had such periodicities in each of their REM periods and the fifth subject had such periodicities in half the REM periods. This REM density fluctuation at a periodicity of about 2 min may relate to an important 'rhythmic' component of the REM generating mechanism(s).