The five stages of sleep revealed

Scientific research has shown people move through five different stages of sleep before they reach a dream stage.

The average person goes through five different stages of sleep during the course of a night, according to scientific research.

An article on HowStuffWorks explained the different stages people pass through before reaching Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which is the stage at which the majority of dreams occur.

It takes about 90 minutes after falling asleep to reach the REM stage.

First, people fall into a light sleep from which it is easy to wake.

The second stage of the sleep process sees breathing and heart rate slow, as well as a slight drop in body temperature.

The third and fourth stages see deep sleep begin, leading up to the start of REM sleep.

During REM sleep the body is essentially paralysed while heart rate and breathing increase and our eyes begin to move.

Some people are unfortunate enough to suffer from sleep disorders that mean their bodies are not still during sleep and they will act out the events of their dream, including talking, kicking or even jumping out of bed.