Prone to bouts of nightmares and dreaming? It’s genetic

TWO genes that regulate how much we dream and suffer nightmares have been identified by scientists.

The discovery sheds light on the mystery of Rapid Eye Movement, or REM, sleep – the phase in which most dreaming and nightmares take place.

During REM sleep, the brain is as active as it is when awake.

Now a team of Japanese scientists has located two genes that appear to switch REM dreaming on.

In mice, REM sleep was reduced to almost undetectable levels when both genes were deactivated. The genes produce code for two ‘receptor’ proteins, Chrm1 and Chrm3, that create a biological response.

When both genes were ‘knocked out’, the mice almost completely stopped experiencing REM sleep, but appeared unharmed by the experience.

Dr Hiroki Ueda, from the University of Tokyo, said the discovery of the genes ‘will eventually allow us to define the state of REM sleep, which has been paradoxical and mysterious.’

Experts say nightmares usually occur later in the night and cause strong feelings of terror, distress or anxiety.

The scientists said the research would help to show whether REM dreaming plays a role in learning and memory. Both humans and animals dream.

One school of thought suggests that dreams might help the brain archive important memories or rehearse challenging scenarios.