Stephen Black wrote:
> there is one published account of an individual
> WITHOUT REM sleep (Lavie et al, 1984). The subject was an Israeli with
> a shapnel injury in the brainstem. Despite NEAR-TOTAL absence of REM
> sleep, . . . It seems the
> subject still has periodic bouts of penile erection during sleep, a
> phenomenon of REM sleep, but NO REM (Lavie, 1990). . . . All
> he's said is that on one occasion he woke from a BRIEF PERIOD of REM
> but didn't report a dream.
[I added emphasis--capitalization--to the above passage]
I was confused by this description because it sounded as if two claims were being
made: the subject had no REM sleep AND he had reduced amounts of REM. I inferred
that Lavie was making the latter claim. But I wondered how much REM the subject
showed. I just happened to have a copy of a book by Lavie in my office which I
have not read yet (_The enchanted world of sleep_ published in 1996 by Yale
University Press). It seems that, on some nights spent in a sleep lab, no
measurable REM sleep was observed and, on other nights, about 2-3% of the sleep
period was spent in REM. He also sleeps less than most people (about 4.5-5 hours
per night). Interesting case.
Jeff
--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
"The truth is rare and never simple."
Oscar Wilde
"Science must begin with myths and with the criticism of myths"
Karl Popper
"If you want to learn new things, you should try reading old books."
Richard Cytowic
