As one of the fundamental sleep states, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is believed to be associated with dreaming and is characterized by low-voltage, fast electroencephalographic activity and loss of muscle tone. However, the mechanisms of REM sleep generation have remained unclear despite decades of research. Several models of REM sleep have been established, including a reciprocal interaction model, limit-cycle model, flip-flop model, and a model involving γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, and aminergic/orexin/melanin-concentrating hormone neurons. In the present review, we discuss these models and summarize two typical disorders related to REM sleep, namely REM sleep behavior disorder and narcolepsy. REM sleep behavior disorder is a sleep muscle-tone-related disorder and can be treated with clonazepam and melatonin. Narcolepsy, with core symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, is strongly connected with orexin in early adulthood.

作为一种基本的睡眠状态，快速眼动（REM）睡眠被认为与做梦有关，其特点是低电压、快速的脑电图活动和肌张力丧失。然而，尽管进行了数十年的研究，REM 睡眠产生的机制仍不清楚。已经建立了几种快速眼动睡眠模型，包括交互作用模型、极限循环模型、触发器模型和涉及 γ-氨基丁酸、谷氨酸和胺能/食欲素/黑色素浓缩激素神经元的模型。在本综述中，我们讨论了这些模型并总结了与 REM 睡眠相关的两种典型疾病，即 REM 睡眠行为障碍和发作性睡病。REM 睡眠行为障碍是一种与睡眠肌张力相关的障碍，可以用氯硝西泮和褪黑激素治疗。嗜睡症，