Whats the best way to figure out the REM cycle?

[kamenriderbaron]

So typically when I try to LD, I wake up about after 5-6 hrs of sleep. However last night I went to bed around 9:30 and I woke up at 12:50 and I had awoken from my dream. So after this, its really made me wonder how do you determine the REM cycle?

[jzinser]

Every cycle is about 90 minutes long generally, of course it varies slightly from cycle to cycle and person to person. I think that the best way to figure your own cycle is to notice your awakenings during the night and write them down. We wake up after every cycle even if we don't notice... the first awakening are especially tricky but not impossible. Write down your times of awakening and after a few nights you'll have a good idea of when your REM periods occur.

[kamenriderbaron]

Well since the Rem cycle occurs every 90 minutes correct? So could I set my alarm to wake me up after like 270 minutes/4.5 hrs after and could that work?

[jzinser]

Sure, you can aim for 4.5 or 6 hours Im not a fan of alarms, I like to rely on my natural awakenings but thats just my personal opinion.

[Sageous]

Well since the Rem cycle occurs every 90 minutes correct? So could I set my alarm to wake me up after like 270 minutes/4.5 hrs after and could that work? Keep in mind that REM periods can potentially last about 90 minutes. Their length absolutely varies from person to person, and there will also be a period of NREM between REM periods that also varies in length. Plus, REM periods become more closely spaced as your night's sleep passes, so it can be more difficult to catch them according to a schedule. On top of all that, REM periods are effected by variables that can change every night (i.e. sleep quality, length, what you may have eaten before bed, your physical or emotional state, etc.), so there really is no way to specifically schedule your wake-up to catch REM. It really isn't that important to catch a REM period exactly; indeed, you might get so caught up in catching REM that you might lose your focus on lucidity. If you do a WBTB after 5 or more hours' sleep, you will very likely be close to a REM period regardless, so there is no real need to schedule your wake-up exactly. One of the reasons that LD'ing is not an exact science is that sleep itself is not a precisely scheduled program. Here is a chart that nicely illustrates the sleep cycle... but keep in mind that it is a general chart, and your own experience will most likely vary from it.

[Nfri]

REM phases are always different, especially if you have insane sleep habits like myself... Only reliable tool is using EEG.