People who liked the rose-like smell of phenyl ethyl alcohol reported more emotionally negative dreams when that odor was presented during REM sleep compared to odorless air. The study presented either the odor or plain air to 15 participants who either liked or disliked the scent, then woke them to report and rate dream content. Individual preference mattered: a favorite odor was linked to negative dream emotions, possibly due to how the brain processes smells during REM sleep.
Elite athletes and non-athletes who experience sleep paralysis are more likely to have long nap routines and frequent sleep interruptions. Among 84 elite athletes and 116 non-athletes, only 6.5% of those with sleep paralysis did not routinely take long naps, compared with 24.3% of those without sleep paralysis. The association between sleep paralysis and sleep interruptions was stronger in athletes. The authors suggest that while long naps are often recommended for sleep loss compensation, they may be a sign of sleep-wake rhythm disruption and should be recommended with caution.