Thread: Why WILD?

From what I've heard, REM atonia and Sleep Paralysis seem like essentially the same thing. Perhaps the terms can just be used interchangeably, even if it's slightly incorrect? It's not like that would be the first time that happened in the English language

Originally Posted by Tobasco

From what I've heard, REM atonia and Sleep Paralysis seem like essentially the same thing. Perhaps the terms can just be used interchangeably, even if it's slightly incorrect? It's not like that would be the first time that happened in the English language

No, this is a highly inaccurate approach. Look, aids and the flu are both viruses, right? But you don't call a retrovirus like aids the flu simply because they both make you sick. These are two VERY distinct things. Doctors like Shannyball's call the disorder sleep paralysis. It's an established term to the entire medical and scientific communities. Just because some lucid dreamers can't keep them straight (and I'm really not sure why) doesn't mean we should run around misusing them. They're not that difficult to use properly.

REM atonia occurs naturally and normally during REM sleep to prevent you from acting out your dreams.
Sleep paralysis is this same mechanism when it is inappropriately activated outside of REM.

SP is a transient, conscious state of involuntary immobility occurring immediately prior to falling asleep or upon wakening and is classified as a parasomnia associated with REM (ASDA, 1990). Although individuals are unable to make gross bodily movements during SP they are able to open their eyes and subsequently to report accurately on events in their surroundings during the episode (Hishikawa & Kaneko, 1965). Approximately 25 to 40% of people report some SP experience (Cheyne, Newby- Clark, & Rueffer, in press; Fukuda, Ogilvie, Chilcott, Vendittelli, & Takeuchi, 1998; Spanos, McNulty, DuBreuil, Pires, & Burgess, 1995), although the incidence may vary across cultures (Fukuda, Miyasita, & Ishihara, 1987; Ness, 1978).

Hypnagogic and Hypnopompic Hallucinations during Sleep Paralysis: Neurological and Cultural Construction of the Night-Mare
J. Allan Cheyne, Steve D. Rueffer, and Ian R. Newby-Clark (1999)

Well then, wouldn't SP be the correct usage of the term if you are not in REM while you're experiencing it? The natural phenomenon that occurs every night to non-LDers while they sleep would be REM atonia. But according to your source, the only distinguishing difference between REM atonia and SP is whether or not the person is in REM sleep at the time they experience it...

Originally Posted by Tobasco

Well then, wouldn't SP be the correct usage of the term if you are not in REM while you're experiencing it? The natural phenomenon that occurs every night to non-LDers while they sleep would be REM atonia. But according to your source, the only distinguishing difference between REM atonia and SP is whether or not the person is in REM sleep at the time they experience it...

That's what I've been saying all along.

Shannyball, are you alright with us continuing this discussion even further on your thread? If not, we can very easily create a new one.

Lol ok I got it now.

Sorry about hijacking your topic man.