Where in the sleep cycle do we wake up?

**Sir Calvert** · 01-25-2013 04:25 PM

Hey,

Trying to pinpooint when my rem periods starts and ends and need some help here.
Do we usually wake up in the end of the rem cycle or is this just a myth? Maybe it's just random?

Or is there any other way to get this investigated?

**Zoth** · 01-25-2013 04:45 PM

The only way to be totally sure is with a sleep lab, imo Iphone apps aren't very reliable.

A sleep cycle takes about 90 minutes, but it may vary a bit, especially because it's hard to predict how long you take to fall asleep (average is 15minutes, but once again it may vary). What you want, assuming you're trying to pinpoint them for WBTB purposes, is to add 6hours without counting the 15 minutes. This way you should wake up during REM and not risk waking up too late.

**Sir Calvert** · 01-25-2013 05:03 PM

Thanks, seems like the est time is somewhere around 6h.

Still curious though in which part of the sleep cycle I'm in when i'm waking up at night. Usually one awakes 3-4 times per night, remembering some dream fragments. Is this always in the end of a REM?

**Zoth** · 01-25-2013 05:18 PM

Most likely: yes, you're waking up in the end of a REM, that's how sleep cycles work. But you can never be 100% sure unless you sleep in a sleep lab. For your purposes though, it's safe that you are indeed waking up in the end of REM, since you're remembering your dream.

**Sensei** · 01-25-2013 07:45 PM

Easiest time to remember dream is when you wake up at the end of REM or during. If you woke up to a small sound or light, you were probably in REM because it is an easier time to be woken up. Other than that, what zoth said.