Latest / The Science Behind Dreams
The Shadow Figures of Sleep Paralysis
This episode explores why people experiencing sleep paralysis often report dark figures, intruders, pressure on the chest, or the overwhelming feeling that someone is nearby. During sleep paralysis, consciousness returns while the body is still partly in REM sleep, allowing dream imagery to overlap with the real bedroom.
Fear, incomplete sensory information, and the brain's threat-detection systems can turn shadows, sounds, or bodily sensations into convincing hallucinations. The feeling of chest pressure may come from unusual breathing sensations during REM sleep, while the sensed presence…
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