Eye movement during sleep same as when awake, says study
Posted on: 15/Aug/2015 12:33:11 PM
Scientists at the University of California have said that during sleep, our brains and eyes react in the same way they react when awake. This would explain why we flicker our eyes during sleep. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
To better understand dreams, researchers implanted electrodes into the brains of 19 volunteers. These volunteers had drug resistant epilepsy. They then recorded data from the electrical activities of individual neurons that are situated in the median temporal lobe. The data collections lasted over two weeks. It was found that the imagery of the dream is formed through rapid eye movement. The same technique is used to make images when awake.
Speaking about this, a researcher said, Brain cells in the medial temporal lobe showed a sudden surge of activity each time after patients moved their eye in REM sleep. This electrical pattern closely resembles what happens when we view something new in waking life.
