During a typical night, two specific neurotransmitters are released to maintain this state:
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GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
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Glycine
These chemicals effectively switch off the signals from your brain to your skeletal muscles. In a standard cycle, you wake up just as the brain stops producing these chemicals, allowing you to move instantly. However, during an episode of sleep paralysis, your conscious mind wakes up abruptly while the body remains under the chemical influence of REM atonia.
Common Symptoms and Hallucinations
The inability to move is rarely the only symptom. Because the brain is still partially in a dreaming state, episodes are frequently accompanied by vivid, lifelike hallucinations.
