REM while awake?

Hey, I'm new to this forum and the term lucid dreaming. Though I've had lucid dreams when I was younger, I never thought them to be out of the ordinary or rare, as I used to have them all the time. Unfortunately, I haven't had any lucid dreams since I was around the age of 10 or so and at that age didn't know the possibilities, besides flying of course. So anyway, I have a question which may prove to be stupid, but I haven't heard anyone talk about this so I thought I'd give it a go. When I first heard about REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, it reminded me of something that I've been able to do my whole life and have only known 3 other people that can do it (2 of which are in my immediate family), which is the ability to vibrate the eyes at a fast speed. When I do it, I don't simply move my eyes back and forth at a fast speed, I relax my eyes and focus them on nothing and then just vibrate them if that makes any sense. Whenever I do it, people comment on how strange it is and that they've never seen anyone do it before, but I'm not sure if a lot of people can do it and simply don't do it often or around other people, or if it is a rare thing to do. Anyway, I'm just wondering if this is the same Rapid Eye Movement that is used during sleep and if anyone else can do it.

I can move my eyes really fast too, but its not the movement that causes vivid dreams. The movement is a product of what is going on in your brain during that period of sleep. REM is an identifier, it lets us identify the phase by a physical action.

Interesting, but I don't think its anything too special unless you're trying to get a quick glance at the girl wearing a low-cut top. :P

Welcome to Dreamviews, Truth Paradox! :)

ExoByte answered your question - if you have any others, feel free to ask.

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Originally Posted by ExoByte

I can move my eyes really fast too, but its not the movement that causes vivid dreams. The movement is a product of what is going on in your brain during that period of sleep. REM is an identifier, it lets us identify the phase by a physical action.

Interesting, but I don't think its anything too special unless you're trying to get a quick glance at the girl wearing a low-cut top. :P

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Hello ExoByte,
Yes I know it's not what causes dreams, it's more of a reaction by the human body due to certain neurons in the brain being particularly active. What I'm talking about would not allow me to glance at a girl's top (unfortunately :P) because when I do it, my eyes are vibrating and I can't see anything with any kind of detail. Also, it's not as much a movement of the eyes as it is a vibration, as I can move my eyes and vibrate them at the same time. Just wondering if anyone else knows what I'm talking about?

I know what you're talking about, as I can do the same. I've done it to freak people out before. :D I don't think its the same kind of REM though as you asked earlier, as one is sub-consciously done for a reason and this kind is consciously done through simple muscle movements. I find it like saying "I can make myself twitch, is it the same as twitching when falling asleep?" I guess technically it could be. Though, whether they're the same or different, I don't see how it makes a difference :P

You're right, it doesn't really make a difference. I was just wondering if there was any connection. And I do find it strange that some people can do it while conscious and others cannot.

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Originally Posted by Truth Paradox

Hey, I'm new to this forum and the term lucid dreaming. Though I've had lucid dreams when I was younger, I never thought them to be out of the ordinary or rare, as I used to have them all the time. Unfortunately, I haven't had any lucid dreams since I was around the age of 10 or so and at that age didn't know the possibilities, besides flying of course. So anyway, I have a question which may prove to be stupid, but I haven't heard anyone talk about this so I thought I'd give it a go. When I first heard about REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, it reminded me of something that I've been able to do my whole life and have only known 3 other people that can do it (2 of which are in my immediate family), which is the ability to vibrate the eyes at a fast speed. When I do it, I don't simply move my eyes back and forth at a fast speed, I relax my eyes and focus them on nothing and then just vibrate them if that makes any sense. Whenever I do it, people comment on how strange it is and that they've never seen anyone do it before, but I'm not sure if a lot of people can do it and simply don't do it often or around other people, or if it is a rare thing to do. Anyway, I'm just wondering if this is the same Rapid Eye Movement that is used during sleep and if anyone else can do it.

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I can do that to. It's not like actually TRYING to vibrate your eyes, you just....can.... but I never thought of it as REM before. Just becuase it HAPPENS during a dream doesn't mean it's induced by it. =/
(but it's fun when you show ppl and they're all "WTF!?")

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Originally Posted by Mini Man56

Just becuase it HAPPENS during a dream doesn't mean it's induced by it. =/

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Again, I never stated that, and I agree with you. I was simply wondering if it was the same "type" of movement, as I've always heard of REM sleep but never knew if it was the same thing. Even though it is highly unlikely, it is possible that there is a connection between the two. After all, so little seems to be known about REM sleep and most of what is known seems to be based on theories.

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Originally Posted by Mini Man56

(but it's fun when you show ppl and they're all "WTF!?")

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I agree! Most who have seen me do it say I am possessed or that I have "demon eyes" :evil: lol.

I know what you're talking about. I vibrate my eyes like that sometimes to freak out my boyfriend. Probably everyone can do it, but most people haven't tried it, or haven't tried it enough to develop a connection between their intent and the muscles that do it. It's probably like being able to see one of those "magic eye" images, and anyone can learn to do it if they master the muscle control.

But I can say with certainty that this is quite different from the movement of our eyes during REM sleep. Watch someone's eyelids sometime when they're sleeping. Because the eyes are slightly oblong, you can see the movement of the eyes underneath. They roll around at an even pace, very similar to when we are awake and looking around, not vibrating at all.

I see. Thanks for clearing that up for me, I've been curious for a while about REM sleep :P.

Welcome to the forum :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ExoByte

I can move my eyes really fast too, but its not the movement that causes vivid dreams. The movement is a product of what is going on in your brain during that period of sleep. REM is an identifier, it lets us identify the phase by a physical action.

Interesting, but I don't think its anything too special unless you're trying to get a quick glance at the girl wearing a low-cut top. :P

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True dat! :D