Script:
One topic that we covered in this course was sleep disorders. I took interest in one sleep disorder called Narcolepsy.
Narcolepsy is when someone falls asleep seemingly at random. What is actually occurring in the body when this happens, is the same muscle weakness and lack of muscle tone, called cataplexy, that occurs during a standard REM sleep (Textbook).
Someone is most likely to experience a narcoleptic episode while experiencing a strong emotion or a stressor. So it is very common for people to fall asleep while simply laughing or even having intercourse. Researchers have theorized that narcolepsy is seemingly caused by a deficit in the neurotransmitters called orexins, however this is not confirmed and the physiological cause of narcolepsy is still being researched (Zeman, 2023).
Something very interesting I discovered during my research was the link between narcolepsy and memory. A study was done and many narcoleptic participants reported their memory to be below-average and their self efficacy was low concerning their memory. But when tested against a control group, there were no marginal differences between the memory of those with narcolepsy vs. those without. The researchers came to the conclusion that there were no inherent memory deficits that accompanied narcolepsy, but rather that they simply have a self-perceived alternation in their memory due to the extreme drowsiness that can be overcome for the short duration of testing (Villalba, 2023).
I hope y’all enjoyed my quick summary of narcolepsy and some associated fun facts!
Sources:
Spielman, Rose M. “Sleep Problems and Disorders .” 2e Psychology , openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/4-4-sleep-problems-and-disorders.
Adam Zeman. Consciousness : A User s Guide [Internet]. New Haven: Yale University Press; 2002 [cited 2023 Nov 30]. Available from: search-ebscohost-com.mybrcc.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=192304&site=ehost-live
Villalba L, Santos G. Narcolepsy : Symptoms, Causes, and Diagnosis [Internet]. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc; 2010 [cited 2023 Nov 30]. (Sleep - Physiology, Functions, Dreaming, and Disorders Series). Available from: search-ebscohost-com.mybrcc.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=390539&site=ehost-live