Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Why the brain can distort perception as people fall asleep
The brain can create perceptions without outside stimuli as people move between being awake and asleep.
Sensory processing, muscle activity and awareness of the surroundings do not always change at the same time, so features of waking and sleep can briefly overlap.
A common example is a sudden muscle jerk that can make someone feel as if they are falling.
Some people hear sounds or see figures near sleep even when nothing in the room caused the experience; the exploding head syndrome can involve a sudden imagined bang and is harmless.
Sleep paralysis happens when awareness returns before muscle control, leaving someone unable to move while dream fragments may still be active.
These experiences show that the brain can produce vivid sensations that feel real, but the account gives no next steps or treatment.
As people fall asleep, changes in sensory processing, muscle activity and awareness do not always happen in sync, which can distort perception.
This brief overlap between wakefulness and sleep can produce sounds, figures or sensations without an external source.
A sleep start, or involuntary muscle jerk, can create the sensation of falling or stumbling.
Exploding head syndrome can cause a sudden perceived noise as someone falls asleep or wakes, and the article describes it as harmless.
Sleep paralysis can occur when awareness returns before the muscle paralysis associated with REM sleep has ended.
- Who
- People transitioning between wakefulness and sleep may experience distorted perceptions.
- What
- The brain can produce sounds, figures and sensations without external stimuli during the transition to sleep.
- When
- While falling asleep or waking; the article also discusses experiences during REM sleep.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Sensory processing, muscle activity and awareness can change out of sync, and the brain can mistake internally generated experiences for external ones.
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- Expert
- Michelle Spear
- Affiliation
- University of Bristol
- Sleep start
- Involuntary muscle contraction that can cause a falling or stumbling sensation
- Exploding head syndrome
- Sudden perceived noise when falling asleep or waking; described as harmless
- REM sleep
- Muscle activity is suppressed to prevent people from physically acting out dreams
What people are saying
percibir un sonido y que ese sonido realmente ocurra no son exactamente la misma cosa