In Japan, a set of experiences called kanashibari is considered identical with isolated sleep paralysis. We investigated this phenomenon by means of a questionnaire administered to 635 college students (390 men and 245 women). Of all subjects, about 40% had experienced at least one episode of kanashibari [subjects of K(+)]. Therefore, isolated sleep paralysis is apparently a more common phenomenon than is usually appreciated. About half of the subjects of K(+) reported that they had been under "physical or psychological stress" or in a "disturbed sleep and wakefulness cycle" immediately before the episode. Many subjects of K(+) experienced the first episode in adolescence. In the distribution of age of first attack, the peak occurred at an earlier age in women subjects than in men subjects. These findings suggest that two factors influence the occurrence of the phenomenon. One is exogenous physical or psychological load and the other is endogenous biological development.

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This article is a survey study, followed by an experimental study, examining the differences of sleep-wake habits and sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) variables between morning and evening type subjects (Ss). In the survey study, the Japanese version of the Horne and Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and Life Habits Inventory (LHI) were administered to approximately 1,500 university students. The survey results showed that the two types were significantly different from each other in terms of retiring and arising time, sleep latency, mood on arising, nap, adequate amount of sleep, number of times of staying awake all night, and variability in bedtime, arising time, and sleep length. These results suggested that evening type Ss had more irregular and/or flexible sleep-wake habits than morning type Ss. In the experimental study, 10 morning and 11 evening type Ss were selected from the population included in the survey study, and polysomnograms were obtained. The results showed that only in rapid eye movement (REM) latency did morning type Ss significantly differ from evening type Ss. REM latency might be related to personality factors, particularly to neuroticism and anxiety.

The present study investigated some differences between ‘morning’ and ‘evening’ types in life habits, particularly concerning meals, ingestion of caffeine and alcohol, and smoking. The Life Habits Inventory and the Japanese version of Home and Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire were administered to approximately 1500 students, and data on life habits of the morning types were compared with those of the evening types. Significant differences between these types were found in frequency of night meals, smoking, and ingestion of caffeine and alcohol. Although significant differences were not found for mealtimes, 34.8% of the evening types typically did not eat breakfast. These differences were discussed from viewpoint of chronopharmacology and personality.

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