'Flying' in your sleep may be a paralysis

[Owlscrying]

last update: 05/03/2007

People who have out-of-body experiences, such as flying along a tunnel towards a heavenly light, are more likely to suffer a strange effect called sleep paralysis, according to a survey that adds to mounting evidence for a biological explanation for the experience.

During sleep paralysis, people experience a kind of breakdown between states of consciousness which takes place on the fringe of sleep, either when falling asleep or waking. Because the brain turns off the body's ability to move during dreaming, muscles can lose their tone, or tension, causing paralysis.

The details of sleep paralysis vary from person to person. Some hear vague sounds, indistinct voices and demonic gibberish. Others see hallucinations of humans, animals and supernatural creatures. There is a striking inability to move or to speak, or a weight on the chest.

Also common are feelings of rising off the bed or flying. In addition, people report out-of-body experiences, sometimes accompanied by "autoscopy" when they look down on themselves. Not surprisingly, these moments are accompanied by fear.

Throughout history, there have also been accounts of people having visions on the brink of death - what are now called "near-death experiences".

Today, the two odd effects are linked by a study that backs the idea that the near-death experience is a biological experience, rather than anything to do with a spiritual dimension, a glimpse of heaven or the existence of the soul.

People who have had near-death experiences are also likely to have suffered sleep paralysis, according to the survey published by a team in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, by Prof Kevin Nelson, from the University of Kentucky, Lexington.

In a survey of 55 people who had a "near-death experience" - defined as a time during a life-threatening episode when a person experienced a variety of feelings, including unusual alertness, seeing an intense light, and a feeling of peace - he found three quarters had an out-of-body experience and half of them had also felt they had left their body during the transition between wakefulness and sleep.

"We found that 96 per cent (24 of 25) of near-death subjects having sleep paralysis also had an out-of-body experience either during sleep transition or near-death," said Prof Nelson.

In a control group of 55 people, three reported an out-of-body experience. Two of them also suffered sleep paralysis. Prof Nelson says this suggests the same brain circuitry plays a role.

The sleep paralysis linked with out-of-body experiences was thought rare, but may strike between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of people at least once.

They report sensations of floating, flying, falling or leaving one's body. It ranges from relatively tranquil floating experiences to horrible feelings of falling or rising at high speed.

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[Mr Walker]

This is an interesting topic although well discussed in previous threads. One problem with the sleep paralysis idea is that it does not explain the fact of verifiable experiences during out of body/astral travel or flying in your sleep. Many people can verify what they saw as real through independent observations. Recent studies into people in near death experiences have found that they accurately recalled a much higher level of detail of their operations and environment, than a control group who had not had such experiences, but were asked to pretend they had, and invent memories from their general knowledge and recall of operating rooms and procedures. The Real experiences were more accurate than the recalls invented, even by doctors and operating staff who were familiar with the environment. I have had several experiences from my life, including one from before i had ever heard of astral travel (i thought it was a dream) in which my recounts of conversations and observations were independently verified by the people i observed. In my early teenage years this got me into enough trouble that i stopped discussing my experiences.

[EmpressStarXVII]

Interesting article, although I have never had a flying dream, ever. I have had many falling dreams though and I feel my body jerk waking me up.

[Mr Walker]

In my opinion you are missing one of the truly great life experiences, and if you can find a way to learn to fly in your dreams grab it and hang on for the ride. Whether propelled by will power, static electricity, flying on magic carpet, dragon back or by starship (lightship or ai drone doesn't really matter) it adds an incredible dimension to one's dream life.

[EmpressStarXVII]

In my opinion you are missing one of the truly great life experiences, and if you can find a way to learn to fly in your dreams grab it and hang on for the ride. Whether propelled by will power, static electricity, flying on magic carpet, dragon back or by starship (lightship or ai drone doesn't really matter) it adds an incredible dimension to one's dream life.

I feel deprived .

[bornagainuhmanduh]

Does anyone know if this includes flying dreams while sleeping? Or is it isolated to flying sensations during sleep paralysis? I have flying dreams quite often and I love them. But I don't suffer from sleep paralysis.