4.11 : Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking

Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, involves individuals engaging in activities ranging from simple walking to more complex behaviors such as driving. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the slow-wave sleep stages 3 and 4 early in the night when the person is not dreaming, contradicting the myth that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams.

Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe to wake a sleepwalker, as they might endanger themselves if left unattended in the dark.

Sleep talking, or somniloquy, is another peculiar sleep behavior in which individuals talk during sleep. They may respond to questions and make coherent statements but are not consciously aware of or able to recall the events. As a result, the reliability of their responses is questionable.

A rare and intriguing behavior linked to sleep medication, particularly Ambien, used for treating insomnia, is sleep eating. Users of Ambien have reported unusual activities, such as finding food wrappers and missing food items that they do not recall consuming. Usage of this drug highlights that some people may perform complex actions while appearing to be asleep, with sleep eating being a notable side effect noted by the drug's manufacturer.

Sleep driving is an extreme yet possible behavior under the influence of sleep medications like Ambien, although it remains a rare phenomenon.

Historically, treatments for somnambulism have included pharmacotherapies such as benzodiazepines and antidepressants, but these have had limited success. Notably, studies show that treating underlying sleep-related breathing problems significantly reduces sleepwalking incidents, suggesting that addressing such foundational issues is more effective than targeting sleepwalking directly.