The hypothesis that adolescents have an exceptionally strong need for REM sleep was tested by measuring their resistance to REM deprivation. Ten adolescents (aged 16 to 17 yr.) were compared with 12 young adults (aged 25 to 27 yr.) in a standard REM deprivation procedure. The adolescents had to be awakened significantly more times than the young adults; this is consistent with the hypothesis that adolescents have a greater need for REM sleep.
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