title: REM sleep behavioral disorders.
abstract: REM sleep behaviors were recently described as wild, dream-enacting behaviors during REM sleep with loss of usual atonia on submental muscles. We examined 6 patients (5 M, 1F) with characteristic episodes of behavioral manifestations during REM sleep. Polysomnographic data indicate a decrease in first REM latency, an absence of stage 4 NREM, altered phasic motor activity and behavioral episodes during REM sleep even with normal chin muscle atonia. Three patients had Shy-Drager syndrome, 1 olivopontocerebellar atrophy and 2 patients had no neurological disease. The crucial importance of a disinhibited locomotor system during sleep appears to be responsible for this REM parasomnia.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Neurology, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sforza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zucconi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petronelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lugaresi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cirignotta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012791:Shy-Drager Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D013132:Spinocerebellar Degenerations / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology