Depiction of parasomnia in the arts

Abstract

For centuries, art and medicine have shared a multidimensional relationship. Medical conditions have since long been a part of literature, music, and the visual arts, and this has contributed to their transcendence. Also, they are a gateway for art lovers to learn about these medical conditions, which have been described in great detail, even before their mention in the scientific literature. Herein, we present some accounts of a neurological condition, parasomnia, from works of art from the 17th to 20th century, and discuss what particular aspects of this disturbance attracted the attention of artists.