Final answer:
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that involves irresistible sleep attacks, brief REM periods, and often muscle paralysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relatively rare condition that involves irresistible attacks of sleepiness, brief periods of REM sleep, and often muscle paralysis is called narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by the inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. Those with narcolepsy frequently experience excessive daytime sleepiness and can fall asleep at inappropriate times. Attacks are often associated with cataplexy, which involves a sudden loss of muscle tone similar to what happens normally during REM sleep. Additional features may include vivid, dream-like hallucinations during the onset of sleep and sleep paralysis. Narcolepsy is distinct from other sleep conditions like sleep apnea, sleep terrors, and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), which have different symptoms and treatment methods.
Narcolepsy is a relatively rare condition that involves irresistible attacks of sleepiness, brief periods of REM sleep, and often muscle paralysis. It is not the same as sleep apnea, sleep terror, or night terror. Narcolepsy is characterized by an irresistible urge to fall asleep during waking hours and is often associated with cataplexy and hallucinations.