![]() In Italy, some interpret sleep paralysis as an assault by the so-called Pandafeche, a figure described as a malevolent witch or terrifying giant cat. ![]() In Egypt, sleep paralysis is often thought to be caused by a jinn (“genie”)-a supernatural creature that terrorizes and sometimes kills its victims. These hallucinations-often involving seeing and sensing ghostly bedroom intruders-are interpreted differently around the world. During sleep paralysis, the crisp dreams of REM “spill over” into waking consciousness like a dream coming alive before your eyes-fanged figures and all. Sometimes the “switch” fails, however-your brain inadvertently wakes up while your body is still under the “spell” of REM paralysis, leaving you stuck in a paradoxical state between parallel realities: wakefulness and REM sleep. Indeed, your brain has a “switch” (a handful of neurochemicals) that tilts you between sleep and wakefulness. To prevent you from acting out these realistic dreams (and hurting yourself!), your brain has a clever solution: it temporarily paralyzes your entire body. During REM, you have intensely lifelike dreams. Sleep paralysis is caused by what appears to be a basic brain glitch at the interface between wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. In fact, my and my colleagues’ research, conducted over roughly a decade in six different countries, suggests that beliefs about sleep paralysis can dramatically shape the physical and psychological experience, revealing a striking type of mind-body interaction. Scientists have since dismissed such explanations, yet these cultural beliefs persist. For centuries, cultures across the world have attributed these hallucinations to black magic, mythical monsters, even paranormal activity. But despite its prevalence, it has largely remained a mystery. ![]() About one in five people have had sleep paralysis at least once. You can’t move a single muscle! If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably experienced an episode of sleep paralysis, which involves the inability to move or speak upon falling asleep or awakening and is often coupled with hallucinations. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to an unearthly figure with blood dripping down its fangs. ![]()
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