Abstract
Both non-REM and REM sleep occur while having a temporal relationship under the influence of the circadian system. However, the mechanism of its occurrence greatly differs in terms of responsible parts and neural circuits. Even in terms of autonomic nervous activity, these two sleeps present quite different aspects. Roughly, non-REM sleep is in its “stability” and REM sleep is in “instability (unpredictability)”. Regarding the phenomenon of autonomic nervous activity during REM sleep, it has been classified into a tonic and a phasic phenomenon from long ago. The phasic phenomenon is a sudden and unpredictable phenomenon also called “a storm of the autonomic nervous system”. In blood pressure, surge or spike-like big ascent is seen. Observation at a decerebrating cat at Claude Bernard University was the first experiment to ask about where the phasic phenomenon of blood pressure originates from the central nervous system. I would like to have an opportunity to recognize again about the wonders of the phasic phenomenon in REM sleep.
