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Correlational Method

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Using the Correlational Method to Study Sleep Through the Lifespan The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the correlational method as a means for examining the relationship between REM sleep and memory. I will describe previous research and then investigate how REM and memory are associated in young people and in older people. In some ways, the sleep patterns of these two groups are very similar, but in some ways they are not. 1a. The complete sleep cycle of an individual is composed of two stages: NREM and REM stage. NREM includes the stage 1 to stage 2 of sleep and the REM stage started from stage 3 to 4. The NREM comprises approximately 75% to 80% of the entire sleeping time of the person; the second stage, REM has the longer span which …show more content…
1b. In the study conducted, it was found out that dreams are associated with REM. It even affected the genetal arousal of the person. Marquet (2001) cited that roughly 80% of the recollection of dreams resulted from the genetal arousal which occurred on this stage. In studies conducted in young adults about the genetal arousal showed that genital arousal decreases with increasing age because adults experiences frequent awakenings during sleep as compared to the young individuals. 1c. REM is indeed characterized by faster rhythm of electroencephalograph (EEG) with low amplitude and frequency, and is associated with rapid eye movement with declined toning of the muscles. As the persons gets older, the REM waves changes and this eventually affects the sleeping patterns of the adult individual as compared to the younger ones. 1d. The circadian rhythm had a crucial impact on the person’s memory and thinking abilities. The circadian rhythm controls the body’s secretion of GABA, a neurochemical that affects the learning process and memory encoding of the person (Maquet, 2001). The circadian rhythm is …show more content…
However, a complete understanding of the roles of REM and non-REM sleep in learning and memory has been elusive. 2a. Maquet (2001) cited that the REM stage of sleep has great impact on the consolidation of memory because it permites the neurons to be reactivated and allows the development of distinctive contexts. Kamel & Gammack (2006) on the other hand revealed that having a poor quality of sleep is connected with weakened memory and reduces concentration and it can also cause impairment of the subject’s psychomotor perfomance. However, these facts does not necessary mean that they are unnecesary in learning because NREM are the preliminary stages before achieving REM. 2b. Animals produce ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves that are essential in attaining REM stage of sleep. Hence, it is observed that when animals are prevented from sleeping then they have difficulty in learning because they lack the PCO waves which can promote the brain development and facilitates the agility of the brain which are necessary in the learning process. 2c. Scientists found out that during REM stage the brain produces neurotransmitters that can enhance the learning and thinking ability of the brain. Among these neuro transmitters are PGO ponto-geniculo-occipital waves which ply important role in the oscillation of the brain cells (Maquet, 2001). Acetylcholine is another neurotransmittesr

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