Skip to main content
Biology

Return to Question

Added tags, helped clarify the OPs interest in mechanism rather than a personal medical problem by incorporating the comment to a previous answer
Source Link
De Novo
De Novo
  • 8.8k
  • 1
  • 26
  • 47

I experience episodes of what I assume is sleep paralysis (lasting ~ 10-30 seconds) a few times a year, where I'm conscious of being somewhat awake but unable to move. I can hear, but not see, and am quite focused on my breathing which feels labored and uncomfortable (can be accompanied by a feeling my face is covered by a sheet). Sometimes, I've even been able to "jolt" myself awake if somehow muscle control is regained. Otherwise, I assume I drift off back to sleep.

Do we know yet what has gone wrong (if it can be assumed to be aberrant) and which neural circuits are involved? What i'm looking for is a specific explanation at the neural circuit level of how it can occur.

Is anyone aware of anyone conducting research into this or how it could be studied as it doesn't occur frequently and likely difficult to induce on demand?

I experience episodes of what I assume is sleep paralysis (lasting ~ 10-30 seconds) a few times a year, where I'm conscious of being somewhat awake but unable to move. I can hear, but not see, and am quite focused on my breathing which feels labored and uncomfortable (can be accompanied by a feeling my face is covered by a sheet). Sometimes, I've even been able to "jolt" myself awake if somehow muscle control is regained. Otherwise, I assume I drift off back to sleep.

Do we know yet what has gone wrong (if it can be assumed to be aberrant) and which neural circuits are involved?

Is anyone aware of anyone conducting research into this or how it could be studied as it doesn't occur frequently and likely difficult to induce on demand?

I experience episodes of what I assume is sleep paralysis (lasting ~ 10-30 seconds) a few times a year, where I'm conscious of being somewhat awake but unable to move. I can hear, but not see, and am quite focused on my breathing which feels labored and uncomfortable (can be accompanied by a feeling my face is covered by a sheet). Sometimes, I've even been able to "jolt" myself awake if somehow muscle control is regained. Otherwise, I assume I drift off back to sleep.

Do we know yet what has gone wrong (if it can be assumed to be aberrant) and which neural circuits are involved? What i'm looking for is a specific explanation at the neural circuit level of how it can occur.

Is anyone aware of anyone conducting research into this or how it could be studied as it doesn't occur frequently and likely difficult to induce on demand?

Bumped by Community user
Bumped by Community user
Tweeted twitter.com/StackBiology/status/1003186028369383424
Bumped by Community user
Bumped by Community user
Bumped by Community user
Bumped by Community user
Bumped by Community user
Bumped by Community user
Bumped by Community user
Source Link
Louis Leung
Louis Leung
  • 351
  • 2
  • 8

What in the brain has gone awry during sleep paralysis?

I experience episodes of what I assume is sleep paralysis (lasting ~ 10-30 seconds) a few times a year, where I'm conscious of being somewhat awake but unable to move. I can hear, but not see, and am quite focused on my breathing which feels labored and uncomfortable (can be accompanied by a feeling my face is covered by a sheet). Sometimes, I've even been able to "jolt" myself awake if somehow muscle control is regained. Otherwise, I assume I drift off back to sleep.

Do we know yet what has gone wrong (if it can be assumed to be aberrant) and which neural circuits are involved?

Is anyone aware of anyone conducting research into this or how it could be studied as it doesn't occur frequently and likely difficult to induce on demand?