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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Diseases & Conditions

Sleep Paralysis Quiz: Do You Know the Facts?

Do I have sleep paralysis? Find out in this quiz!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Courtney OliverUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art shows a person awake in bed with a shadowy figure symbolizing sleep paralysis and quiz prompt on coral background.

This sleep paralysis quiz helps you spot common signs, recall your episodes, and see if your experiences fit the pattern. You'll get a quick read on triggers and next steps, so you can sleep with less worry. If you also struggle to fall or stay asleep, try our insomnia quiz.

Sleep paralysis most commonly occurs during which transition of sleep and wakefulness?
In the middle of deep non-REM sleep
As you fall asleep or as you wake up
Only during daytime naps
Only after a full 8-hour sleep
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Which feature best defines sleep paralysis?
Persistent insomnia every night
Violent motor activity during dreams
Complete loss of consciousness for hours
Temporary inability to move despite being awake or semi-awake
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Which sleep stage is most closely linked to sleep paralysis?
Stage N2
REM sleep
Stage N3 (slow-wave)
Stage N1
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During sleep paralysis, which body system keeps you from moving?
REM-related muscle atonia
Joint immobilization
Complete nerve damage
Voluntary muscle fatigue
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Which of the following are common experiences during sleep paralysis?
High fever
Continuous snoring
Vivid hallucinations and chest pressure
Severe daytime vomiting
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Sleep paralysis itself is usually considered
A daytime seizure disorder
Physically life-threatening
Benign but distressing
A form of psychosis
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Which position increases the likelihood of sleep paralysis episodes for many people?
Sitting upright
Sleeping on the back (supine)
Sleeping on the stomach (prone)
Standing up
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The sensation of a presence in the room during sleep paralysis is best described as
A hallucination related to REM intrusion
Proof of an intruder
A sign of brain infection
A heart attack symptom
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Which disorder is most strongly associated with frequent sleep paralysis?
Narcolepsy
Migraine
Irritable bowel syndrome
Asthma
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Which term describes sleep paralysis when it happens while falling asleep?
Hypnagogic
Somnambulic
Catatonic
Hypnopompic
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Which term describes sleep paralysis that occurs upon awakening?
Dysphoric
Hypnopompic
Hypnagogic
Noctambulant
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A common cultural interpretation of sleep paralysis worldwide involves
A past-life memory returning
A guardian angel lifting the sleeper
A malevolent presence sitting on the chest
A vitamin deficiency
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Sleep paralysis is the same condition as REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).
True
False
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Which statement about eye movement during sleep paralysis is accurate?
Eye movement causes immediate awakening
People can often move their eyes even when the body is paralyzed
Eyes are glued shut and cannot move at all
Only sideways movement is possible
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Which neurotransmitter system is most implicated in REM atonia?
Dopamine in the striatum
Histamine in the tuberomammillary nucleus
Serotonin in the raphe nuclei activating muscles
GABA and glycine inhibition of motor neurons
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The lifetime prevalence of at least one sleep paralysis episode in the general population is approximately
7 to 8 percent
0.1 percent
30 to 40 percent
80 to 90 percent
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Which mental health condition is associated with an increased risk of sleep paralysis?
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Color blindness
Autism spectrum disorder
Specific phobia of heights only
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Alcohol close to bedtime generally has what effect on sleep paralysis risk?
Eliminates risk entirely
Has no effect on sleep
May increase risk by fragmenting sleep
Guarantees vivid but harmless dreams without paralysis
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Which of the following best differentiates sleep paralysis from night terrors?
Night terrors occur during REM
Sleep paralysis includes sleepwalking
Sleep paralysis occurs only in children
Awareness of surroundings is preserved in sleep paralysis
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During sleep paralysis, chest pressure is usually due to
Complete lung collapse
Actual suffocation from the tongue
A heart stopping event
Perceived breathing effort and posture, not airway blockage
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify common sleep paralysis symptoms -

    Learn to recognize hallmark signs of sleep paralysis through our sleep paralysis quiz, distinguishing them from typical sleep disturbances.

  2. Evaluate personal experiences -

    Reflect on your own nighttime episodes with the do i have sleep paralysis quiz to better understand how often and intensely they occur.

  3. Determine potential triggers -

    Use insights from the sleep paralysis test to pinpoint lifestyle and environmental factors that may precipitate episodes.

  4. Analyze your sleep paralysis test results -

    Interpret your quiz outcomes to gauge the severity of symptoms and identify patterns in your sleep health.

  5. Explore strategies and resources for management -

    Discover evidence-based tips and professional resources that can help you reduce the frequency and impact of sleep paralysis.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding REM Atonia -

    During REM sleep, your brain temporarily inhibits motor neurons, causing muscle atonia and leading to episodes of sleep paralysis. According to Harvard Medical School, this protective mechanism can sometimes persist as you wake, leaving you unable to move. A handy mnemonic is "R.E.M. = Resting Every Muscle."

  2. Identifying Core Symptoms -

    Common sleep paralysis symptoms include chest pressure, vivid hallucinations, and inability to speak or move your limbs (National Sleep Foundation). Tracking these indicators with a sleep paralysis quiz helps you recognize patterns and frequency. For example, note if episodes coincide with loud buzzing sounds or sensed presences.

  3. Recognizing Triggers and Risk Factors -

    Research in the Journal of Sleep Research links irregular sleep schedules, stress, and sleep deprivation to higher episode rates. Keeping a sleep diary or using a sleep paralysis test can reveal lifestyle factors you can adjust. Think "S.T.R.E.S.S.": Sleep routine, Timing, Relaxation, Environment, Stress, and Sleep hygiene.

  4. Utilizing Validated Screening Tools -

    Standardized questionnaires like the Sleep Paralysis Questionnaire (SPQ) offer structured steps for a "do I have sleep paralysis quiz."

    Academic sources such as the University of Pennsylvania recommend these tools for reliable self-assessment before seeking clinical help.

  5. Implementing Prevention and Coping Strategies -

    Improving sleep hygiene - consistent bedtimes, limiting screens before sleep, and practicing relaxation - can reduce episodes, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Simple breathing exercises or the "B-R-E-A-T-H-E" technique (Belly breath, Relax jaw, Even pace, And focus, Thoughts calm, Holding off stress, Exhale slow) can help interrupt an episode.

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