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Published on: February 2, 2018
Association between bruxism and nocturnal groaning
Mauro Manconi1, Marco Zucconi, Benjamin Carrot
1Center of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute of San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. manconi.mauro@hsr.it
Summary
This study details the first documented association between bruxism and nocturnal groaning (NG), both linked to sleep arousal events. These findings suggest a common trigger mechanism for these distinct sleep phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Parasomnias
Background:
- Bruxism is a common sleep-related movement disorder causing dental issues and jaw pain.
- Nocturnal groaning (NG) is a rarer parasomnia characterized by expiratory sounds during sleep.
Observation:
- This case report describes the first observed co-occurrence of bruxism and nocturnal groaning.
- Polysomnography revealed close temporal relationships and stereotyped sequences between bruxism and NG episodes.
Findings:
- Both bruxism and NG occurred during NREM sleep.
- Episodes were synchronous with cortical arousals, leg movements, and sympathetic nervous system activation.
Implications:
- Suggests a potential common trigger mechanism for bruxism and NG, possibly arousal-induced.
- Highlights the need for further research into the relationship between movement disorders and vocal parasomnias.
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