Man Suffering From Sleep Paralysis At Home
Have you ever found yourself tangled in the enigmatic explanations that shroud psychological phenomena like sleep paralysis, known as “madzikirira” in our vibrant Shona culture? The echoes of attributions to bewitchment and supernatural forces aren’t unfamiliar, right? But, hold tight, as we venture into the depths of understanding this phenomenon.
When I started my undergraduate studies in Psychology, some of the modules that fascinated me the most were (i) Psychobiology and (ii) Consciousness. It is within these two courses that I first interacted with the sleep paralysis phenomenon from a psychological, psychobiological and neurological point of view. Before then, I only thought of “madzikirira” as a spiritual phenomenon.
Now, sleep paralysis might have often been painted with the hues of spectral encounters, but oh, how the landscape shifts when we turn to the realms of sleep science and neurology.
When the REM (rapid eye movement) phase dances its dreamy waltz, our bodies enter into a spellbinding state known as REM atonia. Here, what I am simply saying is that, during REM sleep, a phase where vivid dreaming occurs, our bodies undergo a natural process known as REM atonia. This is a natural defense mechanism, gently suspending muscle activity, lest our dreams lead us to unintended movements. This implies that the REM atonia mechanism involves the suppression of muscle activity to prevent us from acting out our dreams.
“But how does REM atonia achieve this exactly?”, you might ask. This is where psychobiology and neurology come into play. Remember what we would say when we meet someone who is so intelligent? We would say, “idzi dzine medulla oblongata inodhonza” (he or she has a very effective medulla oblongata). Little did we know that the medulla oblongata has nothing, at all, to do with intelligence. You might now be wondering what is responsible for intelligence. Don’t worry, we will talk about that and more in future blogs.
The function of the medulla oblongata, unlike what you presumed, is basically to ensure that it keeps vital parts and functions of our bodies, such as breathing, digesting, etc., awake whilst it makes sure that the rest of our bodies are asleep. We call these functions autonomous functions. Imagine if this did not happen, people would probably kill themselves whilst asleep as they will be acting out their dreams. This is why we also consider sleepwalking as a sleep disorder. I will delve a little deeper into this particular disorder in my next blogs.
Now, back to a more detailed explanation in scientific terms. The maestro orchestrating this dance? The brainstem, particularly a vital player called the medulla oblongata which is the connection between the brainstem and the spinal code. This medulla oblongata, the crown jewel of the brainstem, conducts an orchestra of life-sustaining symphonies – heartbeats, breaths, and muscle toning. In the realm of REM atonia, it takes center stage. The medulla oblongata quiets the movement by silencing motor neurons, the conductors of muscle action.
But imagine this: what if the brain’s curtain rises a bit early, stirring consciousness while the REM atonia lingers? Voila, sleep paralysis! You’re awake and aware, but temporarily bound by the lingering inhibition of your muscles. Well, what am I saying? I am simply saying that, sleep paralysis or madzikirira can occur when the brain partially wakes up before the REM atonia wears off, resulting in a state where you’re awake and aware, but temporarily unable to move due to ongoing muscle inhibition.
We mustn’t forget the sidekicks that influence this enigma – irregular sleep schedules, sleep debt, and life’s crescendos of stress. These factors can choreograph episodes of sleep paralysis.
As we tread this labyrinth of insight, my aim is to unravel the threads of this phenomenon, laying bare the intricate neurobiological mechanisms in play. Let’s cast off the shroud of mystery and replace it with the robe of understanding. As you have seen, by understanding the intricate neurobiological mechanisms at play, we indeed can demystify madzikirira and offer practical insights for managing sleep patterns to at least avoid the experience of this phenomenon.
Join this voyage with your voice – share your thoughts and musings in the harbor of comments. This, dear comrades, is our journey. And it starts with you, me, and the whispers of psychology.
In shared enthusiasm, Happie, a zealous Psychology Graduate Student. #IntoThePsyche