title: A possible explanation of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
abstract: Research into (lucid) dreaming has shown that the images of a dream are supported by the corresponding body actions, utilizing those muscles which remain active during dreaming. We suggest that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or Cot Death may be a result of an infant dreaming about its life as a fetus. In the course of that dream, since a fetus does not breathe in the usual sense, the infant may cease to breathe and die. Our hypothesis is consistent with the known facts about SIDS, including social factors such as sleeping position and climatic variation. We suggest that the risk of SIDS can be reduced by making the environment of the infant, as much as possible, unlike that of the womb.
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematics and Statistics, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Australia.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Christos
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Christos
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D004325:Dreams; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011187:Posture; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control