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However, they can also occur during daytime naps. [6] Night terrors can often be mistaken for confusional arousal. [8] While nightmares (bad dreams during REM sleep that cause feelings of horror or fear) are relatively common during childhood, night terrors occur less frequently. [9] The prevalence of sleep terrors in general is unknown. [2]
Severe nightmares are also likely to occur when a person has a fever; these nightmares are often referred to as fever dreams. Recent research has shown that frequent nightmares may precede the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and dementia. [20] [21] [22]
Indeed, the only thing that distinguishes nightmares from other types of dreams is that they’re downright unpleasant for the dreamer. The good news, though, is that nightmares might serve a purpose.
It is the main occasion for dreams (or nightmares), and is associated with desynchronized and fast brain waves, eye movements, loss of muscle tone, [20] and suspension of homeostasis. [ 21 ] The sleep cycle of alternate NREM and REM sleep takes an average of 90 minutes, occurring 4–6 times in a good night's sleep.
The effects of the brain activity can interfere with the REM (rapid eye movement) part of sleep, where the majority of dreams and nightmares occur, which is around 90 minutes into sleep. REM is ...
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Fear of the dark is a common fear or phobia among toddlers, children and, to a varying degree, adults. A fear of the dark does not always concern darkness itself; it can also be a fear of possible or imagined dangers concealed by darkness. Most toddlers and children outgrow it, but this fear persists for some as a phobia and anxiety.
Nightmares are like dreams primarily associated with REM sleep. Nightmare disorder is defined as recurrent nightmares associated with awakening dysphoria that impairs sleep or daytime functioning. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] It is rare in children, however persists until adulthood.