HYPNAGOGIC DISSOCIATIVE PAROXYSM WITH PARTIAL MOTOR ACTIVITY: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION
Bohdan Tykhanov
PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) February 8, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18527621 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Describes a hypnagogic dissociative state with partial motor activity, preserved consciousness, and high sensory accuracy, and proposes possible mechanisms including REM intrusion, dissociative processes, and focal neuroparoxysms. Argues the experience may serve as a cognitive and creative resource and should be differentiated from pathological developmental scenarios. |
Abstract
This article presents a phenomenological description of a hypnagogic dissociative state with partial motor activity, preserved consciousness, and high sensory accuracy. The subjective experience of the episode is described, including paralysis, panic, somatosensory phenomena, a strong sense of environmental reality, and a sudden transition to full wakefulness. A hypothetical analysis of possible neurophysiological mechanisms is provided, including REM intrusion, dissociative processes, and focal neuroparoxysms. Rare aspects of the experience are discussed, along with its potential cognitive and creative resource, and possible pathological developmental scenarios are differentiated.