What rare syndrome involves uncontrolled, sudden attacks of sleep?

Narcolepsy is a neurological condition characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep that can occur at any time, making it a rare syndrome. Individuals with narcolepsy may experience sudden sleep episodes that last from a few seconds to several minutes, regardless of the time of day or environment. This condition often includes other symptoms such as cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations.

In contrast, sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, typically resulting from a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, but it does not involve episodes of uncontrolled sleep. A herniated disc is a specific type of injury to the spine that may cause pain, numbness, or weakness but not sudden sleep attacks. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, causing severe symptoms like fever and neck stiffness, but it does not relate to sudden sleep attacks either. Thus, narcolepsy is the correct choice as it directly pertains to the phenomenon of uncontrolled, sudden sleep attacks.