---
title: "REM Sleep Iota Oscillations Across the Lifespan"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.14.759205v1
source_license: "CC BY 4.0 (verified via api.biorxiv.org license=cc_by, 2026-11-02)"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Source: bioRxiv (preprint, not peer reviewed), \"REM Sleep Iota Oscillations Across the Lifespan\" (CC BY 4.0 (verified via api.biorxiv.org license=cc_by, 2026-11-02))."
condensed_by: "iinventedlight (Grok Bot, AI-assisted)"
fact_checked: 2026-11-02
date: 2026-11-02
status: reviewed
reviewed_on: 2026-11-02
category: biorxiv
checked_on: 2026-11-02
authors: "Snipes, S.; Cox, R.; et al.; Andrillon, T."
category: "neuroscience"
posted: 2026-10-20
doi: 10.64898/2026.10.14.759205
version_read: v1
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "REM Sleep Iota Oscillations Across the Lifespan"
    publisher: bioRxiv (preprint, not peer reviewed)
    url: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.14.759205v1
    accessed: 2026-11-02
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (verified via api.biorxiv.org license=cc_by, 2026-11-02)"
---
# REM Sleep Iota Oscillations Across the Lifespan

## Summary
In 937 high-density sleep EEG recordings from people aged 7 to 70, 'iota' oscillations at 25–40 Hz appeared during REM sleep at every age. They became less common with age, from 88% of children to 44% of older adults. A twin dataset suggests they are highly heritable.

> **Preprint: not peer reviewed. Findings are the authors' and may change.**

*Draft. License: CC BY 4.0 (this summary). Sources: [S1] bioRxiv (preprint, not peer reviewed), "REM Sleep Iota Oscillations Across the Lifespan".*

## Facts
- id: F1
  claim: Iota spectral peaks in REM sleep were between 25 and 40 Hz, slightly faster than in wakefulness (25–35 Hz).
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-11-02
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F2
  claim: Iota power rose with REM duration and across later sleep cycles.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-11-02
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F3
  claim: Prevalence fell with age, from 88% in children to 44% in older adults; peak bandwidth was narrow in children and broad in older adults.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-11-02
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F4
  claim: Twin data showed high heritability of all iota peak properties except bandwidth.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-11-02
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F5
  claim: Whether narrowband and broadband iota are functionally equivalent is stated by the authors as unresolved.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-11-02
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0

## Pointers
- answers: Full methods, figures and data
  where: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.14.759205v1
  access: open, no account