Final answer:
Carlos is experiencing cataplexy (option b), a condition related to narcolepsy that involves temporary paralysis of voluntary muscles, often triggered by strong emotions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Carlos stands in front of his Thursday night slam poetry group to recite his most recent work and experiences temporary muscle paralysis without losing consciousness, the condition he is experiencing is termed cataplexy. Cataplexy is a lack of muscle tone or muscle weakness, and in some cases, it involves complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles.
This condition is often associated with narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that is characterized by an irresistible urge to fall asleep during waking hours. In the context of narcolepsy, cataplexy episodes can be triggered by strong emotions and are reminiscent of the muscle paralysis that occurs naturally during REM sleep. Narcolepsy also often includes vivid, dream-like hallucinations during these attack periods.