Since one of its first descriptions 70 years ago, rapid eye movement sleep has continually inspired and excited new generations of sleep researchers. Despite significant advancements in understanding its neurocircuitry, underlying mechanisms and microstates, many questions regarding its function, especially beyond the early neurodevelopment, remain unanswered. This opinion review delves into some of the unresolved issues in rapid eye movement sleep research, highlighting the ongoing need for comprehensive exploration in this fascinating field.
Keywords: Anna Karenina principle; dreams; entropy; gravity; microarousals; predictive processing; rapid eye movement sleep.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Sleep Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Sleep Research Society.