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Glite Dictionary
NREM sleep

NREM sleep

4.4
A stage of sleep without fast eye movements when you usually do not dream
  • noun
  • /ɛnˈrɛm sliːp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sueño NREM
  • The primary outcome measure was the percentage of cyclic alternating pattern sequences (CAPS) rates expressed in percent epochs of NREM sleep stages 1 and 2 containing CAPS.
  • NREM sleep stages

Examples

  • Understanding NREM sleep is essential, as it accounts for about 75% of our total sleep time.

  • Modifications consisted primarily of limiting CAP scoring to events of stages 1 and 2 of NREM sleep.

    Academic text (1996)

  • NREM sleep is restful and restorative.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The only statistically significant finding was a reduction in CAPS rates as a percentage of NREM sleep on the nasal dilator night compared to the control night (Table 1).

    Academic text (1996)

  • During a typical night, most of the time spent sleeping is in NREM sleep, which helps the body recover.

  • The body repairs tissue and builds muscle while you are in NREM sleep.

Synonyms

NREM
vsNREM sleep
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A part of sleep without quick eye movements when you do not usually dream, making up most of the night

uses the full labeled form rather than the short abbreviation
nonrapid eye movement sleep
vsNREM sleep
  • Specialized
3.7

A part of sleep without fast eye movements or dreams when the body repairs itself

is the database entry name referring to the same sleep stage
nonrapid eye movement
vsNREM sleep
  • Specialized
4.3

The part of sleep when your eyes stay still and you do not dream

uses the complete phrase including the usual final noun
orthodox sleep
vsNREM sleep
  • Archaic
7.4

A stage of sleep without quick eye movements or dreaming when the body repairs itself

uses the standard scientific label rather than the traditional name

Antonyms

REM sleep
  • Specialized
10 4.1

A stage of sleep with fast eye movement, clear dreams, and high brain activity

Surface Forms

NREM sleep singular
NREM sleeps plural

Morphology

NREM + sleep

The compound meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'NREM' specifies a phase without rapid eye movements or dreaming and 'sleep' names the state, so 'NREM sleep' straightforwardly means sleep in that (non-REM) phase. It is a technical term, but given knowledge of the constituent meanings the overall sense is predictable and compositional.

Etymology

NREM sleep comes from the simple idea that the eyes do not move quickly during this sleep; NREM stands for 'no rapid eye movement'. This quiet time is when the body rests and repairs itself, so today NREM sleep refers to the deep, non-dreaming part of sleep.