REM Sleep

The Neural Control of Slow-Wave and REM Sleep Although sleep involves most of the brain, the basal forebrain region is particularly important to slow-wave and REM sleep. Sterman and Clemente found that electrical stimulation of this area produced drowsiness and the subjects of the study readily fell asleep. Evidence also suggests that the mechanisms involved in an animal's ability to regulate its own body temperature (thermoregulation) are closely related to those involved in sleep. There …

…brain stem regions involved in the control of eye movements. This explains how the acetylcholinergic neurons are responsible for the onset of REM sleep, including genital arousal, muscular paralysis, and rapid eye movements. Activation of the forebrain neurons causes arousal and rapid eye movements occur because of axons sent from the peribrachial area to the tectum. Muscular paralysis is interrupted by lesions to the brain stem - in these circumstances, people act out their dreams.