#08: Sleep & Alcohol - Part 1

REM Suppression

Matthew Walker explains that alcohol is a potent suppressor of REM sleep, which is crucial for both brain and body health. REM sleep supports learning, memory, creativity, emotional balance, and hormonal regulation, including testosterone levels. It is also linked to longevity, with less REM sleep predicting a shorter lifespan 1.

   

REM Rebound

After consuming alcohol, the brain attempts to recover lost REM sleep, leading to the phenomenon known as REM rebound. Matthew Walker describes how the brain keeps a clock counter of REM sleep and builds a hunger for it when deprived. This results in intense and vivid dreams once the alcohol is metabolized 2.