Do the eyes scan dream images during rapid eye movement sleep? Evidence from the rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder model.
Brain : a journal of neurology June 1, 2010 Laurène Leclair-Visonneau, Delphine Oudiette, Bertrand Gaymard et al.
During REM sleep, rapid eye movements often align with the direction of dream-enacting behaviors in patients with REM sleep behavior disorder, supporting the idea that eyes scan dream scenes. In 56 patients and 17 controls, behaviors occurred 2.1 times more frequently during REM sleep with rapid eye movements than without. When goal-oriented actions like grabbing or climbing occurred, 82% of accompanying rapid eye movements were directed toward the action, rising to 90% for determinant movements. However, 38-42% of behaviors lacked rapid eye movements. The similarity of eye movements between patients and controls suggests this scanning also occurs in normal REM sleep.