Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
June 15, 2020
Valentina Gnoni, Sean Higgins, Alexander David Nesbitt et al.
12 citations
Three patients with non-REM parasomnias experienced episodes of Cotard delusion—believing they were dead or dying and unable to perceive their bodies as their own. These nihilistic mentations occurred during confusional arousals from sleep and were accompanied by panic. EEG source analysis indicated right-hemispheric hypoactivity during the episodes. The authors argue that aberrant activation of the salience network and default mode network—two major intrinsic networks of wakefulness—underlies these states. Such dreamlike mentations are rarely remembered and likely underreported, but can cause significant distress and worsen clinical outcomes if unaddressed.
Journal of sleep research
June 1, 2025
Liborio Parrino, Francesco Rausa, Giulia Balella et al.
4 citations
REM sleep plays a crucial role in emotional recovery, with studies showing that 60% of participants experience REM rebound after deprivation. Historical discoveries by pioneers like Aserinsky and Kleitman established its unique characteristics, including a blend of brain activation and muscle atonia. The review emphasizes REM sleep homeostasis and its periodicity within ultradian rhythms. It also explores the complex relationship between arousals, sleep, and consciousness, highlighting notable distinctions between non-REM and REM sleep-related arousals, revealing their similarities to wakefulness.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
May 1, 2013
Zoran Vukadinovic, Merrill S Herman, Ivana Rosenzweig
Cannabis use is a strong environmental risk factor for schizophrenia, but the mechanism is unknown. This theoretical paper argues that exogenous cannabinoids may directly affect T-type calcium channels in the thalamus. These channels are critical for amplifying corticothalamic inputs and generating neuronal burst firing, which is important for trans-thalamic cortico-cortical interactions. Interference with burst firing could impair these interactions, leading to a relative disconnection between cortical areas, reduced ability to recognize re-afferent sensory inputs, and psychosis. Δ(9)THC may be more detrimental than cannabidiol because it increases thalamic neuron excitability through its direct effect on T-type calcium channels.