Dreaming, memory-making, problem-solving: A lot happens during the most active sleep phase.
“It is fair to say that there is a lot left to learn about REM sleep,” Dasgupta said. But from what researchers do understand, REM is critical to our emotional health and brain function — and potentially even our longevity.
Walker added: “We take those new pieces of information and start colliding them with our back catalog of stored information. It’s almost a form of informational alchemy.” In general, you need less sleep as you age, including slightly less REM. But large deficits of REM sleep, no matter your age, can deprive you of its psychological benefits, Dasgupta said. You may have more trouble learning, processing emotional experiences or solving problems.