Sleep Paralysis

How does sleep paralysis happen?

 The short answer is that it comes from the Brain Stem, that portion of the brain that connects the brain with the spinal cord. The longer answer begins with understanding that the brain generates two distinct types of brain waves that combine to form a sleep cycle. Most human sleeping is non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, characterized by large, slow brain waves, relaxed muscles, and slow deep breathing. There is also rapid eye movement or REM sleep. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is often called dreaming sleep. The reptilian or 1^st brain layer consisting of the brain stem and cerebellum, is believed to create REM sleep. It is also responsible for atonia, the paralysis of all voluntary muscle groups, except for the eyes. Normally the human body does not move during REM sleep. That is a very good thing because it prevents people from jumping out of bed and acting out scary dreams. More tomorrow.