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From: dsn@mimsy.UUCP (Dana S. Nau)
Newsgroups: sci.misc,sci.med
Subject: Re: Dreams as a reaction
Message-ID: <4734@mimsy.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 14-Dec-86 03:55:33 EST
Article-I.D.: mimsy.4734
Posted: Sun Dec 14 03:55:33 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Dec-86 01:27:28 EST
References: <43@wjh12.UUCP> <733@dg_rtp.UUCP> <4101@jhunix.UUCP>
Reply-To: dsn@mimsy.UUCP (Dana S. Nau)
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 25
Xref: mnetor sci.misc:134 sci.med:382

In article <4101@jhunix.UUCP> ins_amap@jhunix.UUCP (Mark Aden Poling) writes:
>In article <733@dg_rtp.UUCP>, throopw@dg_rtp.UUCP (Wayne Throop) writes:
>> (Cites a study showing that cats are partially paralysed during sleep.)
>> So, your body is paralyzed in dream-state sleep so that you
>> don't thrash around and hurt yourself.
>> 
>
>	I've heard basically the same things before, but they don't explain
>a recent incident that happened to me.  ... I awoke in great pain,
>and now have a nice little scar on one of my nuckles.

On the other hand, it might help to explain an experience I had about ten
years ago which has been a source of great puzzlement to me:

In the middle of the night, I sort of woke up half way.  My eyes were open,
and I could see the wall of my room, but I was hearing music in my head, the
way I do when I dream--and I couldn't move.  At first, this intrigued
me--but then I got scared.  I tried hard to move, but still couldn't.  Then,
suddenly, I was completely awake:  the music was gone, and I could move.

If anyone knows of any studies that might explain this, I'd like to see them.
-- 

Dana S. Nau,  Comp. Sci. Dept.,  U. of Maryland,  College Park,  MD 20742
dsn@mimsy.umd.edu	seismo!mimsy!dsn		(301) 454-7932