Exploding head syndrome is common in college students

Roberta Bernstein | USATODAY

If your reaction is “Um, what?” that’s pretty much ours, too.

Exploding head syndrome is a “psychological phenomenon in which (people) are awakened by abrupt loud noises, even the sensation of an explosion in their head,” according to a report in the WSU News. And it’s more common than researchers had thought, according to a study done by Brian Sharpless, an assistant professor and director of the university psychology clinic at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash.

His research, published in theJournal of Sleep Research, found that nearly one in five — 18% — of college students interviewed said they had experienced it at least once.

It tends to happen while going to sleep and is mostly harmless, but pretty scary if it’s happening to you. And, according to the study, it can result in clinical consequences such as feelings of distress and/or impairment. The study recommends more research should be done.



This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.