Thread: What is Sleep Paralysis?

I like Howie's write up:

Originally Posted by Howie

SP - Sleep Paralysis explained
Sleep paralysis or (SP) sometimes referred to as the old hag, has many myths and misconceptions. Because the majority of us do not understand the science behind what sleep paralysis is, SP has long been frightening to many lucid dreaming advocates and non advocates alike. I would like to apply some facts that we do know to make SP less of a mystery.
SP is a subjective experience to us all, a great example of this is irish cream's Sleep Paralysis Tutorial.
A physiological event Through dedicated study, research and the advent of new brain imaging techniques we can attribute sleep paralysis to an actual physiological event. (FMRI) Functional magnetic resonance imaging measures the haemodynamic response related to neural activity in the brain or spinal cord of humans or other animals. It is one of the most recently developed forms of neuroimaging. (PET) Positron emission Tomography

Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnagogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form). In both cases this is during a (NREM) or non- rapid eye movement. *This explains why these events happen to us directly before we fall asleep or directly after we awake.

What are the symptoms? A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations, hynogogic imagery or dream-like mentation. Cause The brain's physiological mechanism during normal sleep sends a message via what is called (GABA) gamma aminobutyric acid which acts to inhibit the activity of the brain's motor system. Some of my own views associated with SP and Lucid dreaming. SP is an action or lack there of. It is a cause and effect. Because of this, some may NEVER experience SP. Although subjective I believe some feel that they can induce SP, possibly they can manipulate the "state of being" to such a degree. It is my belief that it is our endeavours to lucid dream and to become aware at dreaming intervals that puts US in a good scenario for SP to happen rather than us creating SP. I guess that is neither here nor there. I do think it is important to NOT associate SP with the success or even the means or signs of Lucidity. As we fall asleep our motor functions are shut down as we enter a rapid eye movement period. All but our eyes. Hence, rapid EYE movement or (REM). The movement of our eyes follow that of the movement in our dreams. The rest of us is paralyzed, this in effect prohibits us from flailing around in our sleep. As we awake from a dream state there are times that we awake before our brain conveys a message to turn our motor skills back on. So we lay there, aware but unable to move. (this is why it should not be scary) SP can last from moments to minutes. There are always variables. When our system fails to relay this message there are cases in which we do jump around in our sleep, mumble or in severe cases sleep walk. Just realize it is no gauge to which lucidity is judged by.

Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

I like Howie's write up:

Thank you mate; I'm all cleared up now.

Check my SP-related topic in Beyond Dreaming out: http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=61718