Why your brain might trick you into feeling a ghost's weight
In short: Experience the science behind one of our most common nocturnal fears. This video explains why we sometimes wake up unable to move, and what happens when our dreams bleed into reality.
Sleep paralysis occurs when there is an overlap between REM sleep—the stage where dreaming happens—and the waking state. During REM, the body typically enters a state of temporary muscle atonia to prevent us from acting out our dreams. When this mechanism fails to switch off correctly upon waking, individuals may find themselves conscious but unable to move or scream.
While the experience can feel terrifying, it is physically harmless. The video explores how different cultures across the world have interpreted these sensations, introducing various characters and entities that people commonly report seeing during these episodes.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The terrors of sleep paralysis - Ami Angelowicz
- Also: The terrors of sleep paralysis
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