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Manifestations of Sleep-Wake State Instability
Signs and symptoms of narcolepsy reflect the underlying sleep-wake state instability.1-3
Sleep-Wake State Instability Throughout the Day
People living with narcolepsy can experience multiple intrusions of non-REM sleep and REM sleep throughout the day.2-5 Gain more insight on the impact of ongoing sleep-wake state instability in narcolepsy.
In narcolepsy, the sleep-wake cycle is unstable throughout a 24-hour period.1,3,6
Unstable wakefulness is reflected in:
- Increased frequency of daytime naps6,7
- Rapid transitions to REM sleep during daytime naps7,8
Narcolepsy is also characterized by disrupted nighttime sleep with rapid onset of REM sleep and with frequent transitions between wakefulness, REM sleep, and stages of non-REM sleep.7,9
Sleep-wake state instability can manifest as impaired alertness or lapses into sleep.2,3,10
In narcolepsy, manifestations of excessive daytime sleepiness can occur due to insufficient activation of key wake-promoting neurons and insufficient inhibition of non-REM sleep–promoting neurons.2,5,8
- Insufficient activation of wake-promoting neurons may lead to impaired alertness and neurocognitive functioning1,2,8,11
- Insufficient inhibition of non-REM sleep–promoting neurons can allow non-REM sleep to intrude into wakefulness as microsleep episodes or unintended lapses into sleep2,5,12
Sleep-wake state instability can manifest as symptoms of REM sleep dysregulation.1,2,8
Insufficient inhibition and intermittent activation of REM sleep–promoting neurons can lead to disordered regulation of REM sleep, which may manifest as symptoms such as cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.2,8
In narcolepsy, unstable boundaries between REM sleep and wakefulness may allow elements of REM sleep to intrude into wakefulness.8,13
- The muscle atonia characteristic of REM sleep can intrude into wakefulness, manifesting as symptoms such as cataplexy or sleep paralysis2,8
- The dreams of REM sleep can also intrude into wakefulness as hypnagogic hallucinations2,14
Other potential signs and symptoms of REM sleep dysregulation in narcolepsy include:
- Abnormally rapid transitions to REM sleep (i.e., sleep-onset REM periods [SOREMPs]) during daytime naps or at night5,8
- Vivid, frightening, or bizarre dreams15,16
- Dreams during daytime naps17
- Lack of muscle atonia during REM sleep16,18
Resources and Tools
Preview and download resources and tools to help sharpen your clinical skills.
Explore »- España RA, Scammell TE. Sleep neurobiology from a clinical perspective. Sleep. 2011;34(7):845-858.
- Saper CB, Fuller PM, Pedersen NP, Lu J, Scammell TE. Sleep state switching. Neuron. 2010;68(6):1023-1042.
- van der Heide A, Lammers GJ. Narcolepsy. In: Thorpy MJ, Billiard M, eds. Sleepiness: Causes, Consequences and Treatment. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2011:111-125.
- Pillen S, Pizza F, Dhondt K, Scammell TE, Overeem S. Cataplexy and its mimics: clinical recognition and management. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2017;19(6):23.
- Bassetti C, Aldrich MS. Narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and periodic hypersomnias. In: Culebras A, ed. Sleep Disorders and Neurological Disease. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2000:323-354.
- Rogers AE, Aldrich MS, Caruso CC. Patterns of sleep and wakefulness in treated narcoleptic subjects. Sleep. 1994;17(7):590-597.
- Pizza F, Vandi S, Iloti M, et al. Nocturnal sleep dynamics identify narcolepsy type 1. Sleep. 2015;38(8):1277-1284.
- Scammell TE. Narcolepsy. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(27):2654-2662.
- Roth T, Dauvilliers Y, Mignot E, et al. Disrupted nighttime sleep in narcolepsy. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013;9(9):955-965.
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine. International Classification of Sleep Disorders. 3rd ed. Text Revision. American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2023.
- Oken BS, Salinsky MC, Elsas SM. Vigilance, alertness, or sustained attention: physiological basis and measurement. Clin Neurophysiol. 2006;117(9):1885-1901.
- Mochizuki T, Crocker A, McCormack S, Yanagisawa M, Sakurai T, Scammell TE. Behavioral state instability in orexin knock-out mice. J Neurosci. 2004;24(28):6291-6300.
- Broughton R, Valley V, Aguirre M, Roberts J, Suwalski W, Dunham W. Excessive daytime sleepiness and the pathophysiology of narcolepsy-cataplexy: a laboratory perspective. Sleep. 1986;9:205-215.
- Scammell TE, Arrigoni E, Lipton JO. Neural circuitry of wakefulness and sleep. Neuron. 2017;93(4):747-765.
- Pisko J, Pastorek L, Buskova J, Sonka K, Nevsimalova A. Nightmares in narcolepsy: underinvestigated symptom? Sleep Med. 2014;15(8):967-972.
- Thorpy MJ, Dauvilliers Y. Clinical and practical considerations in the pharmacologic management of narcolepsy. Sleep Med. 2015;16(1):9-18.
- Waihrich ES, Rodrigues RN, Silveira HA, Fróes Fda F, Rocha GH. Comparative analysis of multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT) parameters and occurrence of dreaming in patients with daytime sleepiness of narcoleptic and non-narcoleptic origin. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2006;64(4):958-962.
- Thorpy M, Morse AM. Reducing the clinical and socioeconomic burden of narcolepsy by earlier diagnosis and effective treatment. Sleep Med Clin. 2017;12(1):61-71.