237. REM sleep critical for emotional and mental health
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
We know that sleep is critical for our mental health, but a new study shows that a certain phase of sleep is important for our emotional health as well. In the study, published in the journal Science, Swiss researchers examined the brain activity of mice during wakefulness, REM, and non-REM sleep. They found that during REM sleep, neurons in the prefrontal cortex at the front of the brain appear to reinforce positive emotions while also dampening our most negative and traumatic ones. REM sleep – short for rapid eye movement – is the phase when we do most of our dreaming. The researchers believe that REM sleep plays a role in post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
