Which sleep phase is known for its progressively increasing duration throughout the night?

REM sleep is characterized by its progressively increasing duration throughout a typical sleep cycle. During the first sleep cycles of the night, REM sleep lasts for a shorter period. However, as the night progresses, the duration of REM stages extends, often becoming longer and more vivid. At the beginning of the night, you may experience brief episodes of REM, but as you cycle through the stages of non-REM and REM sleep, those episodes can lengthen, especially during the latter half of the sleep period.

This aspect of REM sleep supports memory consolidation and emotional processing, which are critical functions attributed to this phase. Understanding the importance of REM sleep and its dynamic nature can offer insights into healthy sleep patterns and their influence on overall well-being and cognitive function.