Sleep/Delirium/Neurology/Psyc critical care

Q: What is exploding head syndrome?

Answer: Exploding head syndrome causes the sufferer occasionally to experience a huge loud noise, originating from within his or her own head. It is usually described as the sound of an explosion, roar, gunshot, loud voices or screams, a ringing noise, or the sound of electrical arcing (buzzing).

This noise usually occurs within an hour or two of falling asleep, not related to dream and can happen while awake. Interestingly, it does not cause headache. It may be associated with tachycardia, tachypnea and severe anxiety.

1. The exploding head syndrome: polysomnographic recordings and therapeutic suggestions. - Sleep. 1991 Jun;14(3):263-6.

2. Exploding head syndrome - http://www.sleepassociation.org/index.php?p=explodingheadsyndrome