Sleep Paralysis and Intruder Experiences Across Cultures

Record summary

Post-2010 sleep-paralysis research has compared episodes of immobility, sensed presence, chest pressure and visual or auditory figures across cultures. The phenomenon is a strong cross-cultural lead because similar physiological states are interpreted as demons, ghosts, witches, ancestors, aliens or medical events depending on local narratives. Named reviews and surveys by sleep researchers provide established terminology and prevalence estimates. The literature generally supports sleep-related mechanisms while documenting how cultural expectation shapes memory, distress and explanatory models.