Nightmare: Understanding Wally's Terrifying Experience

What did Wally experience that led Ward and June to believe he had just had a nightmare?

a) Sleepwalking

b) Sleep apnea

c) Nightmare

d) Sleep paralysis

Answer:

Based on the symptoms and the information about Wally's sleep stage just before waking up, the most appropriate description is that Wally had just experienced a nightmare. The correct option is (c).

In the scenario described, Wally awoke screaming, shaking, and sweating with a rapid heartbeat. His parents, Ward and June, hooked him up to an electroencephalogram (EEG) and noted that Wally was in stage 4 sleep just before he awoke.

A nightmare is a vivid, frightening dream that can cause a person to wake up with strong emotions such as fear or anxiety. This aligns with Wally's symptoms and the indication of being in stage 4 sleep before waking up.

While sleepwalking, sleep apnea, and sleep paralysis can also be disruptive sleep disorders, they do not match the symptoms and circumstances described in Wally's case.

It is crucial to pay attention to the details and characteristics of an individual's experience to accurately diagnose and address their sleeping issues. In Wally's case, the presence of vivid and frightening dreams along with physical manifestations strongly suggests a nightmare.