Dreaming can occur during which sleep states?

• A. Dreaming can occur only in REM sleep
• B. Dreaming can occur in both REM and NREM sleep
• C. Dreaming occurs only while awake
• D. Dreaming cannot occur during sleep

Answer: (B)

Dreaming isn’t limited to a single sleep stage. In REM sleep the brain shows high activity and vivid, story-like dreams often occur because the cortex is active while the body is temporarily paralyzed. But dream experiences can also arise during non-REM sleep, especially in lighter stages, even though they tend to be less vivid and less continuous. So, the best answer is that dreaming can occur in both REM and NREM sleep.