paradoxical sleep: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Technical/SpecialistTechnical/Formal/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “paradoxical sleep” mean?
A distinct stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement (REM), brain activity similar to wakefulness, muscle atonia, and vivid dreaming.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A distinct stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement (REM), brain activity similar to wakefulness, muscle atonia, and vivid dreaming.
The term highlights the apparent contradiction (paradox) of a brain that is highly active while the body remains mostly immobile and deeply asleep.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. 'REM sleep' is the dominant term in both dialects.
Connotations
More clinical and descriptive, emphasizing the neurophysiological paradox.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general discourse, used almost exclusively in neurology, sleep medicine, and psychology.
Grammar
How to Use “paradoxical sleep” in a Sentence
Paradoxical sleep is characterized by X.The subject enters paradoxical sleep.Researchers study the function of paradoxical sleep.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “paradoxical sleep” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient was observed to paradoxically sleep for longer intervals.
- (No specific verb form common)
American English
- The rodent model is used to study how mammals paradoxically sleep.
- (No specific verb form common)
adverb
British English
- (Not used adverbially)
American English
- (Not used adverbially)
adjective
British English
- The paradoxical-sleep stage is crucial for cognitive processing.
- They recorded paradoxical-sleep episodes.
American English
- The researcher focused on paradoxical-sleep deprivation effects.
- Paradoxical-sleep behavior disorder is a known condition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
(Not applicable)
Academic
Frequent in neuroscience and psychology papers, e.g., 'The study examined memory consolidation during paradoxical sleep.'
Everyday
Rare. The layperson would say, 'I was in deep REM sleep.'
Technical
Standard term in sleep research and clinical reports, e.g., 'Polysomnography showed reduced latency to paradoxical sleep.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “paradoxical sleep”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “paradoxical sleep”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paradoxical sleep”
- Using 'paradoxical sleep' in casual conversation. Confusing it with light sleep or insomnia.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for all practical purposes. 'Paradoxical sleep' is the more technical, descriptive term used in research, while 'REM sleep' is the more common name in both lay and professional contexts.
Because a key feature of paradoxical (REM) sleep is muscle atonia—a temporary paralysis of the body's voluntary muscles, preventing physical movement.
In healthy adults, paradoxical (REM) sleep constitutes about 20-25% of total sleep time, occurring in cycles throughout the night, with longer REM periods towards morning.
Yes, certain conditions and medications can increase REM sleep duration. Conversely, a deficit or disruption of paradoxical sleep is linked to mood and memory problems.
A distinct stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement (REM), brain activity similar to wakefulness, muscle atonia, and vivid dreaming.
Paradoxical sleep is usually technical/formal/scientific in register.
Paradoxical sleep: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpærəˈdɒksɪkəl sliːp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌperəˈdɑːksɪkəl sliːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common idioms use this specific term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a paradox: something that seems self-contradictory. PARADOXical sleep is the paradoxical state where your brain is AWAKE (active, dreaming) but your body is ASLEEP (paralyzed).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SLEEPING BRAIN IS AN AWAKE BRAIN (within the paralyzed body).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason the sleep stage is called 'paradoxical'?