Decode the shadow phenomenon

Mysterious phenomena like shadows have been explained in the perspective of science, while opening the way to treating sleep disorders.

Decode the "shadowing" phenomenon in sleep

During the sleepy phase of sleep, our muscles become stiff, preventing the body from reflecting on the actions taking place in the brain. Now scientists claim to have found chemicals that help keep the body still while it is energizing in the evening. The new finding is believed to support the treatment of sleep disorders, according to the Journal of Neuroscience report.

Brain chemicals begin to work in a period called REM , about 90 minutes after sleep. During REM, brain activity is extremely agitated, and dreams reach a climax. However, the body's active muscles, from hands, feet, fingers, any muscle that is controlled when awake, are paralyzed. This state helps keep people still while the brain strives to draw the most monstrous scenarios. That is why some people sometimes experience a feeling of immobility when they sleep, or when they wake up but the muscles are still in a frozen state, called ' shadowing '.

About 40% of people in the world have experienced paralysis in their sleep, including cases of feeling hallucinations like someone entering the room, hovering above them. It seems that the extremely unpleasant feeling that haunts many people in every culture, who is said to be enchanted by female elves, then poured into ghosts to try to find some dreaming affection in others. living. Generally speaking, it's a devilish story.

People who feel like someone is in the room, or weighing on their chests are all hallucinations . One possible explanation is that now, hallucinations are the way the brain seeks to clear up the disturbance when there is interference in the body's "map" of the nerve or itself, according to a recent report. Jalal and colleague Vilayanur Ramachandran were published in the journal Medical Hypotheses.

Monstrous images often appear when under pressure.(Photo: Henry Fuseli)

While people with paralysis, parietal lobe monitor nerve cells in the brain (located in the middle of the upper part of the brain) send a signal to move but do not cause real movement in the legs and arms, causing them to be paralyzed. temporary. That disrupts the brain process to build a sense of body image.

"The arrival of the intruder in the bedroom is the result after the brain associates its own body image into a fuzzy figure," Jalal said.

Previously, the mechanism of paralyzing muscles was still a mystery. Previous studies have suspected a neurotransmitter called glycine , but immobilization still occurs when glycine is blocked. Therefore, experts Patricia Brooks and John Peever of the University of Toronto (Canada) turned to research. They focused on two different types of active neurotransmitters, including GABAB and GABAA / glycine. Accordingly, the paralysis of people in sleep requires the support of both these receptors. The determination of the activity of neurotransmitters is very important for people with sleep disorders , especially behavioral disorders during REM. That means the patient acts like he is dreaming, talking, punching in his sleep.

Experts hope the new report will provide more information to find effective treatment, because 80% of REM disorders will gradually develop neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's.