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The Effects of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep on Retention

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Abstract

The literature concerning the relationship of rapid eye movement sleep to cognitive activity in general and retention in particular is reviewed. Evidence from studies using animals and humans as Ss is included. No firm conclusions can be reached because of the lack of research in some aspects of the problems and because of methodological inadequacies in much of the research, but con-siderable evidence is at least consistent with the idea that rapid eye movement sleep is involved in long-term retention. A state-dependent learning hypothesis which accounts for some of the results is considered. Suggestions for future work in this area are included.

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Stokes, J.P. The Effects of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep on Retention. Psychol Rec 23, 521–531 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394200

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