Relationship between eye movements and oneiric behavior in cats.

The relation between oneiric behavior and rapid eye movements (REMs) in paradoxical sleep (PS) without muscle atonia was analyzed in cats. Most isolated REMs were related to orienting behavior, whereas most REM bursts were related to generalized body movements (jumping, attacking, etc.). Only isolated, high amplitude REMs had any possibility of corresponding to visual images in dreams. From these findings we propose the existence of both dream-related and nondream-related REMs even in animals.