![]() ![]() This review aims to provide a synthesis of behavioral, neurophysiological, and neurochemical evidence to discuss the complex relationship between NC and emotional experience and to direct future research. Notwithstanding this evidence, the relationship between emotion and narcolepsy is poorly investigated. Interestingly, NC patients, even during sleep, have a different emotional experience than healthy subjects, with more vivid, bizarre, and frightening dreams. Consistently, NC patients seem to use coping strategies even during their sleep, avoiding unpleasant mental sleep activity through lucid dreaming. Furthermore, behavioral studies suggest an impairment of emotions processing in narcolepsy-cataplexy (NC), like a probable coping strategy to avoid or reduce the frequency of cataplexy attacks. Neurophysiological and neurochemical findings suggest the involvement of emotional brain circuits in the physiopathology of cataplexy, which seems to depending on the dysfunctional interplay between the hypothalamus and the amygdala associated with an alteration of hypocretin levels. Some symptoms of narcolepsy depend on emotional stimuli for instance, cataplectic attacks can be triggered by emotional inputs such as laughing, joking, a pleasant surprise, and also anger. This disease affects significantly the overall patient functioning, interfering with social, work, and affective life. The exaggerated startle reflex is in line with recent findings concerning involved brain areas in narcolepsy.Ībstract Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. The presumed specificity of the abolishment of H-reflexes during cataplectic attacks is questioned by our findings. The patterns found add relevant knowledge concerning pathophysiological mechanisms and involved brain areas in cataplexy, and may reflect subclinical expressions of cataplexy. Audiospinal reflexes were not influenced. ![]() Startle reflexes were increased in patients. H-reflexes were attenuated during laughter in patients as well as controls. In this controlled explorative study, we studied 14 patients with a clear history of cataplexy and 12 matched controls using standard H-reflex, H/M ratios, audiospinal reflex, H-reflexes modulated by emotions and startle reflexes. In this study we tried to assess presumed subclinical expressions of cataplexy using neurophysiological tests. Unfortunately, it is difficult to induce cataplexy during consultation. We look forward to helping you resolve your sleep issues.Cataplexy, when unequivocally present together with excessive daytime sleepiness, is diagnostic for narcolepsy. We will need a referral from your physician before your appointment. Please call 73 to schedule a clinic visit. We typically treat narcolepsy with a combination of medications and suggestions for changes in behavior. During the MSLT, you are monitored at the Sleep Laboratory and have a series of nap trials during the day. The MSLT is a daytime test that follows the overnight sleep study. A daytime naps test, called a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT).In order to be diagnosed, you will need to come to the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center for: Sudden onset of muscle weakness in response to laughter or strong emotion (called "cataplexy").Sensation of dreaming while you are still awake (sleep-related hallucinations).Temporary inability to move when you wake up (called "sleep paralysis").The fifth symptom-cataplexy-does not occur in all individuals with narcolepsy. The first four symptoms do not automatically indicate narcolepsy. Approximately 1 in 4,000 people have narcolepsy, but the condition often goes undiagnosed. If you fall asleep several times during the day-no matter how hard you try not to-you could have narcolepsy. ![]()
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