Consciousness in non‐REM‐parasomnia episodes

• DOI: 10.1111/jsr.14275
• Publication Date: 2024-07-02T05:35:25Z
• Authors: Francesca Siclari
• Keywords: Parasomnia; Unconsciousness; Hallucinating; Disconnection

Summary Sleepwalking and related parasomnias are thought to result from incomplete awakenings out of non‐rapid eye movement (non‐REM) sleep. Non‐REM parasomnia behaviours have been described as unconscious automatic, or vivid, dream‐like conscious experiences. Similarly, some observations suggested that patients unresponsive during episodes, while others they can interact with their surroundings. To better grasp characterise the full spectrum consciousness environmental (dis)connection associated behavioural 35 adult non‐REM sleep were interviewed in‐depth about The level episodes was reported be variable both within between individuals, ranging minimal absent largely automatic (frequently/always present in 36% patients) preserved experiences characterised by delusional thinking varying degrees specificity (65%), often impending danger, variably formed, uni‐ multisensory hallucinations (53%), impaired insight (77%), negative emotions (75%), variable, but pronounced, amnesia (30%). Patients a dream scene which felt awake (“awake dreaming”). surroundings either realistically perceived, misinterpreted (in form perceptual illusions misidentifications people), entirely hallucinated function prevailing delusion. These suggest consciousness, sensory disconnection is graded. In full‐fledged expression, feature several core features dreams. They therefore represent valuable model for study sleep‐related dreaming.