paradoxical

/ˌper-ə-ˈdäk-si-kəl/

adjective

  1. of the nature of a paradox

  2. inclined to paradoxes

  3. not being the normal or usual kind

the paradoxical theory that global warming will lead to the next Ice Age

noun

  1. rem sleep

noun

  1. a state of sleep that recurs cyclically with non-REM sleep several times during a normal period of sleep, is characterized especially by greatly depressed muscle tone, dreaming with vivid imagery, rapid eye movements, and increased neuronal activity in certain brain regions (such as the pons), and typically comprises up to 25% of time spent in sleep —called also paradoxical sleep, rapid eye movement sleep

REM sleep, it soon became apparent, occurs in intervals throughout the night, usually four to six times, each lasting from ten minutes to an hour.