Bed-Sharing in Couples Is Associated With Increased and Stabilized REM Sleep and Sleep-Stage Synchronization

This study investigated the effects of bed partner presence on sleep neurophysiology in young, healthy heterosexual couples using polysomnography. Co-sleeping was associated with increased REM sleep, less fragmented REM sleep, longer undisturbed REM fragments, and more limb movements compared to individual sleep. Sleep architectures were more synchronized between partners during co-sleep. Social support interacted with sleeping arrangement, with individuals having suboptimal support showing the greatest impact on REM sleep. Relationship depth also positively associated with synchronization. Neither REM sleep nor synchronization were influenced by gender or chronotype.

Henning Johannes Drews, Sebastian Wallot, Philip Brysch, Hannah Berger-Johannsen, Sara Lena Weinhold, Panagiotis Mitkidis, Paul Christian Baier, Julia Lechinger, Andreas Roepstorff, Robert Göder