March 2005 PMID 15881271

Sleep paralysis, sexual abuse, and space alien abduction.

Richard J McNally, Susan A Clancy

Mentions

46
Peak: 17 in Sep 2019
across 5 sources since Feb 2015

Extended reach

434,269
potential audience

Total likes

4,841

Video views

182,777

Mentions per month

Feb 2015 – Apr 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter38 posts
  • News4 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit1 posts
  • Blogs1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a balanced exploration of the article, with posts like '@fringedotcom' emphasizing scientific evidence about brain scans and hallucinations, contrasting with others who consider cultural influences, such as meeting spirits or aliens, highlighted in questions about the truth of such experiences. The tone varies from skeptical to inquisitive, with references to studies and scientific concepts indicating meaningful engagement with the research findings.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge sleep paralysis as a key factor in understanding these phenomena, with some skepticism about the reality of alien abductions, but overall leaning towards scientific explanations.

InterestHigh interest

The posts show high interest, referencing studies, scientific concepts, and cultural narratives, indicating engagement with the topic's complexity and implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants analyze the role of cognitive and perceptual distortions, citing specific mechanisms like hallucinations and cultural attributions, demonstrating a moderate depth of engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

While some dismiss the literal truth of abduction stories, many recognize the importance of scientific explanations in understanding sleep paralysis and related phenomena, suggesting a moderate impact on perceptions of these events.

Abstract in brief

  • Sleep paralysis, especially with hallucinations upon awakening, often involves a frightening experience where individuals feel unable to move and may see intruders or aliens, reflecting a disconnect between their perceptions and physical responses during REM sleep.
  • The first study found that people who claimed to be abducted by aliens often experienced sleep paralysis, with hallucinations being interpreted as alien beings, suggesting a link between their sleep episodes and alien abduction stories.
  • The second study showed that adults with memories of childhood sexual abuse reported sleep paralysis more frequently than others, but only a small portion linked these episodes directly to their abuse memories, often relying on cultural narratives to make sense of these experiences.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
SciShow
@SciShow · X

Alien abduction stories can give us some insight into how our brains work. https://t.co/hi8ayEv295 https://t.co/sDM8uzQ95q

Sep 16, 2019 · 15 likes · 4 shares · 112,482 followers View post →
AP for Students
@APforStudents · X

You've been on the internet and watched TV, so you know some people claim to have been abducted by aliens

Oct 4, 2019 · 2 likes · 1 share · 91,753 followers View post →
Jeff Knox
@mrjeffknox · X

Sleep Paralysis, Sexual Abuse, and Space Alien Abduction Richard J. McNally and Susan A. Clancy (2005) https://t.co/UBo8p6yXck

Oct 15, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 3,454 followers View post →
anabatic
@anabatic · X

@DominicELacasse I would start here: https://t.co/u8gfCrIQTw and then move on to: Sleep Paralysis, Sexual Abuse, and Space Alien Abduction https://t.co/OTYHs1eolr Clinical evidence in the phenomenon of Alien Abduction https://t.co/lWxlgUgxd3

Sep 30, 2022 · 2 likes · 158 followers View post →
Sébastien Carassou
@FlashCordon · X

What "Alien Abductions" Say About Our Brains https://t.co/LVeEd8lb86

Sep 23, 2019 · 1 like · 20,508 followers View post →
God Psychosis
@ageofblasphemy · X

@fringedotcom That’s a falsehood. There is zero evidence of “aliens” in MRI brain scans. You talk endlessly about “deception” how do conclude an idea is a deception? If you applied the test of what you think is “deception” to your own ideas what would be the result? https://t.co/whqvPUJAKI

May 5, 2024 · 1 like · 2,032 followers View post →

All mentions

Exkova
@TempusVuelan · X

La culpa de que la gente aparezca en ER con elementos random metidos en el recto, es claramente de los aliens, ¿cómo si no? https://t.co/JHT1HeG59m

Nov 3, 2024 · 27 followers View post →
Roger Goll
@rogergoll · X

@AvelinoReAu ref item 1. Se nós seres primitivos estamos começando a clonar ou criar partes humanas em laboratório. Porque roubar partes humanas? Não faz sentido. Triste é a possível relação disso com abusos ou traumas na infância: https://t.co/920qrE7vui https://t.co/PpYdeDZAhE

Jul 31, 2024 · 191 followers View post →
God Psychosis
@ageofblasphemy · X

@fringedotcom That’s a falsehood. There is zero evidence of “aliens” in MRI brain scans. You talk endlessly about “deception” how do conclude an idea is a deception? If you applied the test of what you think is “deception” to your own ideas what would be the result? https://t.co/whqvPUJAKI

May 5, 2024 · 1 like · 2,032 followers View post →
Sapitch Cool
@NoFollowerSVP · X

@TKozzer @AeroTech_Space @planethunter56 Not exactly. But there's plenty of studies pointing to sleep paralysis, memory distortion, PTSD, suggestibility, dissociation, psychosis and more. Here are a few examples

Mar 9, 2024 · 157 followers View post →
Sapitch Cool
@NoFollowerSVP · X

@tobjectpascal @1911Moose https://t.co/ofTYzhwxfQ "Sleep paralysis accompanied by hypnopompic ('upon awakening') hallucinations is an often-frightening manifestation of discordance between the cognitive/perceptual and motor aspects of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep"

Feb 19, 2024 · 157 followers View post →
Sapitch Cool
@NoFollowerSVP · X

@tobjectpascal @1911Moose You were asleep, I see. https://t.co/ofTYzhwxfQ https://t.co/vY7DDDe1XE

Feb 19, 2024 · 157 followers View post →
Dog & Leftist Enthusiast
@FactsMatterPpl · X

@FlavorCountry78 @NuckChorris16 This is the best working hypothesis that researchers have so far. Do you think that people that report meeting Brahma and meeting Jesus and meeting ancestor tribal spirits and animal spirits are all equally true literal experiences? https://t.co/vtV71ZpXo5

Jan 29, 2024 · 1,024 followers View post →
E
@Eksopolitiikka · X

RT @mrjeffknox: Sleep Paralysis, Sexual Abuse, and Space Alien Abduction Richard J. McNally and Susan A. Clancy (2005) https://t.co/UBo8p6y…

Oct 15, 2023 · 1 share · 578 followers View post →
Jules
@Theflyingnipple · X

@jesaisrien2rien https://t.co/8Xvq598Paw

Sep 9, 2023 · 1 like · 1,316 followers View post →
Peter Smolinský
@psmolinsky · X

https://t.co/fh5iNP3234

Apr 27, 2023 · 54 followers View post →
Peter Smolinský
@psmolinsky · X

https://t.co/fh5iNP3234

Apr 5, 2023 · 54 followers View post →
Monsieur Mallah's Dead parade
@TrepidationLair · X

Request PDF | Sleep Paralysis, Sexual Abuse, and Space Alien Abduction | Sleep paralysis accompanied by hypnopompic ('upon awakening') hallucinations is an Sleep Paralysis, Sexual Abuse, and Space Alien Abduction - ResearchGate https://t.co/8YBCQWFJ22

Mar 5, 2023 · 1 like · 661 followers View post →
anabatic
@anabatic · X

@MrHustleMCR @MikeColangelo https://t.co/7Wbdvog1ta

Jan 7, 2023 · 1 like · 158 followers View post →
Dr Evil
@md_stat · X

@GallaherCaren the science is clear in this robust study

Dec 13, 2022 · 2,706 followers View post →
Jeff Knox
@mrjeffknox · X

Sleep Paralysis, Sexual Abuse, and Space Alien Abduction Richard J. McNally and Susan A. Clancy (2005) https://t.co/UBo8p6yXck

Oct 15, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 3,454 followers View post →
anabatic
@anabatic · X

@DominicELacasse I would start here: https://t.co/u8gfCrIQTw and then move on to: Sleep Paralysis, Sexual Abuse, and Space Alien Abduction https://t.co/OTYHs1eolr Clinical evidence in the phenomenon of Alien Abduction https://t.co/lWxlgUgxd3

Sep 30, 2022 · 2 likes · 158 followers View post →
Mikko Nuuttila
@NuuttilaMikko · X

https://t.co/nDPcPkU1YH

Apr 23, 2022 · 107 followers View post →
aNtHoNy LeBLaNc
@ghost_bogus_woH · X

https://t.co/1BZFf6hLMj

Nov 30, 2021 · 14 followers View post →
Crap Zap (Sabrina)
@CrapZap · X

Liked on YouTube: What "Alien Abductions" Say About Our Brains https://t.co/RCVwfGEv8h

Oct 19, 2020 · 286 followers View post →
Hardkore5250
@HardKore5250 · X

https://t.co/Cw1npIujNQ

Mar 11, 2020 · 369 followers View post →
vmyths
@vmyths · X

CYBER ATTRIBUTION: The narrator talks about "misattribution" in this video at the 3:42 mark: https://t.co/8r9zadkxGX

Oct 30, 2019 · 2,243 followers View post →
AP for Students
@APforStudents · X

You've been on the internet and watched TV, so you know some people claim to have been abducted by aliens

Oct 4, 2019 · 2 likes · 1 share · 91,753 followers View post →
Chris Dale
@chipnator · X

What "Alien Abductions" Say About Our Brains https://t.co/CAUY7jFVQz via @YouTube

Sep 25, 2019 · 37 followers View post →
Michelle Ward
@justmichellem77 · X

https://t.co/LVk0GmqMDM

Sep 24, 2019 · 353 followers View post →
Sébastien Carassou
@FlashCordon · X

What "Alien Abductions" Say About Our Brains https://t.co/LVeEd8lb86

Sep 23, 2019 · 1 like · 20,508 followers View post →
Elise Larsson
@EliseLarsson · X

What "#Alien #Abductions" Say About Our #Brains https://t.co/uTtoQ7QNZd via @YouTube #Psychology

Sep 22, 2019 · 238 followers View post →
Matija Mandarić
@mmandaric · X

What "Alien Abductions" Say About Our Brains - YouTube https://t.co/MQTAQ76g49

Sep 20, 2019 · 100 followers View post →
AzzarinneTweets
@AzzarinneTweets · X

What's up with people who insist that they've been abducted by #aliens? Does the fact that their stories tend to be similar mean that it's true? Maybe. Maybe not. https://t.co/VITWgZWyy9 by @SciShow​ ft. @HankGreen

Sep 19, 2019 · 1 like · 450 followers View post →
Charles Ikenna
@CharlesIkenna23 · X

What "Alien Abductions" Say About Our Brains https://t.co/AMmH1CvfPl via @YouTube

Sep 17, 2019 · 3,221 followers View post →
Ryan Buckwalter
@BucksterMcgee · X

@JesseCox @ChilluminatiPod @FacianeA Here's a great short video talking about how our brains can misremember or incorrectly interpret experiences as 'alien abductions'. https://t.co/SQkyGNt6zX P.S. miss the podcast! Can't wait for a new one.

Sep 16, 2019 · 424 followers View post →
William Wallace
@bill14051 · X

RT @SciShow: Alien abduction stories can give us some insight into how our brains work. https://t.co/hi8ayEv295 https://t.co/sDM8uzQ95q

Sep 16, 2019 · 4 shares · 325 followers View post →
João M
@nababu · X

Sep 16, 2019 · 566 followers View post →
MentalChillness
@MentalChillin · X

What "Alien Abductions" Say About Our Brains https://t.co/D9hZomX6t1 via @YouTube

Sep 16, 2019 · 2,075 followers View post →
insaniquarium
@inas_nee · X

RT @SciShow: Alien abduction stories can give us some insight into how our brains work. https://t.co/hi8ayEv295 https://t.co/sDM8uzQ95q

Sep 16, 2019 · 4 shares · 162 followers View post →
Chrono
@ChronoChasm · X

RT @SciShow: Alien abduction stories can give us some insight into how our brains work. https://t.co/hi8ayEv295 https://t.co/sDM8uzQ95q

Sep 16, 2019 · 4 shares · 74 followers View post →
SciShow
@SciShow · X

Alien abduction stories can give us some insight into how our brains work. https://t.co/hi8ayEv295 https://t.co/sDM8uzQ95q

Sep 16, 2019 · 15 likes · 4 shares · 112,482 followers View post →
E Barratt
@E_Barratt · X

This episode was super fun to write and research, I'm so excited it's out. Special shout out to the editing beast that is @alexiswrites for whipping it into shape. <3 https://t.co/0omG7w5sTh

Sep 16, 2019 · 1 like · 639 followers View post →
TomiTapio
@Tomi_Tapio · X

#sleepparalysis and false memories. Hag-ridden, ufo abducted, Angels. https://t.co/hvUd4MR6WH

Sep 16, 2019 · 2,085 followers View post →
Content Server | PDF | Parapsychology | Consciousness
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... 10.1177/1363461505050715. This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. 03/05/opinion/when-things ...

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... 10.1177/1363461505050715. Connects alien abduction reports to sleep paralysis hallucinations and memory distortion. It shows how people use ...

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