Sara had been asleep for just over 2 hours when she suddenly let out a piercing cry and sat straight up in her bed. When her parents asked what had scared her, she really couldn't remember, and she soon fell back to sleep. From this description, it appears that Sara experienced
A) an episode of sleep apnea.
B) a night terror.
C) a nightmare.
D) REM deprivation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sara's sudden cry and inability to remember the scare suggest she experienced a night terror. Night terrors are characterized by sudden waking and intense fear or terror, often with physical symptoms such as sweating or an increased heart rate, but with little to no memory of the content of the terror. Sleep apnea, nightmares, and REM deprivation do not fit the description provided in the scenario.

Sara Had Been Asleep for Just Over 2 Hours When