Which stage of sleep is primarily associated with dreaming?

REM sleep, or Rapid Eye Movement sleep, is the stage of sleep most closely associated with vivid dreaming. This stage is characterized by increased brain activity, rapid eye movements, and temporary muscle paralysis, which prevents individuals from acting out their dreams. During REM sleep, the brain shows patterns of activity similar to those seen during wakefulness, which contributes to the intensity and recall of dreams.

Additionally, REM sleep typically occurs multiple times throughout the night, with each period of REM lengthening in duration as the night progresses. This cyclical pattern means that individuals often experience several dream episodes per night. In contrast, other stages of sleep, including NREM sleep, do not typically involve vivid dreams to the same extent. While some dreams can occur in NREM sleep, they are generally less vivid and memorable than those experienced during REM.