Research progress on sleep paralysis
10.3760/cma.j.cn113694-20241113-00734
- VernacularTitle:睡眠瘫痪的研究进展
- Author:
Bin WU
1
;
Hao YAO
Author Information
1. 复旦大学类脑智能科学与技术研究院，上海 200433
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Sleep paralysis;
Sleep disorders;
Sleep, REM;
Hallucinations;
Fear
- From:
Chinese Journal of Neurology
2025;58(5):553-560
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Sleep paralysis (SP), commonly known as "ghost oppression" in Chinese tradition, is a dissociative state in which muscle atonia, typically seen during rapid eye movement sleep, occurs while consciousness is maintained, often during the process of falling asleep or upon waking up. SP manifests as a state where the individual remains consciously aware but is unable to move the trunk or limbs, frequently accompanied by vivid hallucinations and intense fear. SP can appear as a symptom of specific types of sleep disorders such as narcolepsy or occur in isolation. At present, there are few studies on SP in China, and there are no systematic reports on SP. The research progress of SP from the perspectives of epidemiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, assessment tools and intervention methods are reviewed in this article.
