Question

Robert and Fred are both involved in a sleep study. Robert wakes up screaming early in the night. The researchers notice that although his eyes are open, he doesn't seem to be totally awake. Additionally, recordings show Robert's heart rate is very fast. Fred wakes up much later in the sleep period because he was frightened by the content of his dream. He was able to report to the researcher a vivid account of the dream upon waking. Robert likely experienced a ______, whereas Fred experienced a ______.

a) Night terror; nightmare
b) Sleepwalking episode; night terror
c) Nightmare; night terror
d) Sleep paralysis; sleepwalking episode

Answer 1

Robert experienced a night terror, involving panic without memory of the event, while Fred had a nightmare, with a vivid recollection of the dream.

Step-by-step explanation:

Robert likely experienced a night terror, whereas Fred experienced a nightmare. Night terrors are a sleep disorder in which the sleeper experiences a sense of panic and may scream or attempt to escape from the immediate environment, typically occurring during NREM sleep.

These events are characterized by a rapid heart rate, seeming awakeness but with no subsequent memory of the episode. In contrast, nightmares are vivid, distressing dreams that typically occur during REM sleep and can often be recalled in detail upon awakening. The correct answer to the fill-in-the-blank question is: a) Night terror; nightmare.