EVER had a karaoke performance so bad you wanted to forget it?
Well, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep might be your secret weapon for handling that stress.
Scientists at the University of Helsinki's SleepWell Research Program, led by Anu-Katriina Pesonen, decided to explore how our different sleep stages - slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep - affect our stress levels, and will inform treatment options for anxiety disorders.
And what better way to stress people out than karaoke?
In this study, 29 brave souls were split into two groups: one had their SWS disrupted, and the other had their REM sleep messed with.
The stress test?
Singing karaoke without hearing themselves and then, for the ultimate cringe, listening to their recordings without any background music.
Yep, pure vocal embarrassment.
The researchers measured their stress responses before and after these torturous nights.
The result was that those who missed out on SWS but still got their REM sleep had stronger stress responses the next morning compared to those deprived of REM sleep.
So, while REM sleep might make that karaoke nightmare seem worse, it's also helping your brain process the emotional trauma of croaking out a song.
Next time you bomb at karaoke, remember: sleep tight and let REM do its thing.
Your brain, and your future karaoke attempts, will thank you.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 29 May 24
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