Researchers from Canada have found that nightmares are nothing more than precursors of degenerative brain processes. John Pivert, an employee of the University of Toronto, shared his conclusions based on the results of the experiments during a conference of neuroscientists in Montreal.
Violation of the phases of REM sleep, according to the neurophysiologist, contributes to the experience of difficult and terrible dreams. At the same time, the processes in the neurons of the brain caused by sleep disorders can lead to the fact that a person will not only see absolutely real pictures, but can also scream and fight in his sleep, experience muscle spasms, convulsions, and also fall out of bed.
A Canadian researcher conducted an experiment on mice. After the introduction of a special drug that simulates the development of brain diseases as accurately as possible, the experimental rodents experienced sleep disturbance and extreme anxiety, according to the university website.
It is still difficult to say whether it is really possible to diagnose brain diseases from nightmares. But, in the future, a study by Canadian neurophysiologists will allow a different look at the detection and prevention of severe degenerative brain diseases in humans. Observations of potential patients during sleep will be taken as a basis.