Which of the following statements about sleep is accurate?

• A. During deep sleep, heart rate and breathing speed up significantly.
• B. Sleep deprivation has no impact on cognitive performance.
• C. REM sleep is associated with vivid dreaming and increased brain activity.
• D. Adults typically require less than 4 hours of sleep per night for optimal functioning.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Review each statement carefully to determine its accuracy based on established psychological and physiological knowledge about sleep.
2. Understand that during deep sleep (also known as slow-wave sleep), heart rate and breathing actually slow down rather than speed up, so the first statement is inaccurate.
3. Recognize that sleep deprivation negatively impacts cognitive performance, including attention, memory, and decision-making, so the second statement is false.
4. Recall that REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is characterized by vivid dreaming and increased brain activity, making the third statement accurate.
5. Know that adults generally require around 7-9 hours of sleep per night for optimal functioning, so the fourth statement claiming less than 4 hours is sufficient is incorrect.