REMlike

REMlike is a term used to describe phenomena that resemble rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. It is a descriptive neologism rather than a formal clinical category, and its precise meaning varies by field. In neuroscience and psychology, REMlike indicates patterns that echo REM characteristics—such as eye movements, distinctive brain activity, or reports of dreamlike mentation—without claiming that the subject is experiencing true REM sleep.

Etymology and scope: the word combines REM, the acronym for rapid eye movement, with the suffix -like to signify likeness. It appears across disciplines, including sleep research, cognitive science, and sometimes the arts or media, to convey similarity rather than identity. In research contexts, authors may use REMlike to describe transitional states, artificially induced patterns, or artifacts that mimic REM features during non-REM sleep or wakefulness, always distinguishing these from bona fide REM sleep.

In literature and media, REMlike is often employed metaphorically to evoke dreamlike sequences, vivid imagery, or surreal narratives that mirror the experiential quality associated with REM sleep. The term is typically used descriptively and non-specifically, allowing writers and researchers to discuss resemblance without asserting equivalence to REM.

See also: REM sleep, sleep stages, dream, neural activity, mentation. Notes: REMlike is not a standardized term; its definition depends on the disciplinary context, so consult relevant literature for field-specific usage.