REMLatenz

REMLatenz refers to the interval between the onset of sleep and the first rapid eye movement (REM) sleep period during a sleep episode. In practice, it is a standard parameter in sleep research and clinical sleep assessment and is typically measured using polysomnography, which records EEG, EOG, and EMG signals. The onset of REM sleep is identified by characteristic EEG patterns and rapid eye movements.

In healthy adults, REM latency is commonly around 90 minutes, with typical ranges roughly between 60 and 120 minutes. REM latency can vary with factors such as age, prior sleep duration, circadian phase, and prior sleep deprivation. Shortened REM latency is often observed in people with major depressive disorder and can be influenced by certain antidepressant treatments that shorten the time to REM sleep. Prolonged REM latency may occur under conditions such as sleep deprivation after sleep onset, certain medications, or neurological factors.

Interpreting REM latency generally requires considering the full context of sleep architecture and other polysomnographic findings. No single REM latency value is diagnostic on its own; it contributes to a broader assessment of sleep health, mood disorders, and the effects of medications or treatments.

REMLatenz is one piece of the larger picture of sleep stages and architecture, alongside measures such as total sleep time, sleep efficiency, REM density, and the distribution of non-REM stages. See also REM sleep, sleep architecture, and polysomnography.