US High School Psychology Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the US High School Psychology Exam with our quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Ace your test with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Night terrors typically occur during which type of sleep?

REM sleep
Non-REM sleep
Stage 1 sleep
Stage 2 sleep

The correct answer is: Non-REM sleep

Night terrors typically occur during non-REM sleep, particularly during the deeper stages of non-REM sleep, such as stage 3. Non-REM sleep is characterized by a lack of vivid dreaming, making it a distinct phase compared to REM sleep, where most dreaming occurs. During night terrors, individuals may experience intense fear, screaming, and confusion while still being in a state of deep sleep, which can result in little or no memory of the episode. This phenomenon is most common in children, who often outgrow it as they develop. In contrast, REM sleep is associated with vivid dreams and is not when night terrors occur. Other stages of non-REM sleep, like stage 1 and stage 2, are lighter phases of sleep, where arousals and awakening are more likely, making them less conducive for the intense experiences characteristic of night terrors. Thus, non-REM sleep is the most fitting context for understanding the occurrences of night terrors.