An evolutionary-emotional perspective of insomnia and parasomnias
PsyArXiv December 19, 2018 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/5vma2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that insomnia and parasomnias such as sleepwalking, sleep terrors, and nightmares are evolutionary survival mechanisms with threat-related origins that become persistent in vulnerable individuals due to a failure of fear extinction. Proposes that genetic determinants, personality traits, and sleep disturbances determine whether normal sleep resumes or a chronic condition develops, and suggests treatments targeting fear extinction. |
Abstract
Based on past literature, it is here supported that insomnia, and parasomnias such as sleepwalking, sleep terrors and nightmares, reflect an evolutionary survival mechanism, which has threat-related origins and which, in some vulnerable individuals, becomes persistent due to failure of a fear extinction function. Genetic determinants, personality traits and sleep disturbances seem to determine whether the individual will resume normal sleep after the acute phase (return to safety) or will develop the pathological condition of chronic insomnia, persistent sleepwalking in adulthood and nightmare disorder. Possible treatments targeting fear extinction are proposed, such as pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and targeted memory reactivation during sleep.