Somnambulism - the myth of sleepwalking

Sleepwalking is one of the parasomnic sleep disorders and refers to an unconscious waking state during sleep. Find out here what is behind the myth of sleepwalking and how it happens that we wake up from sleep without consciousness or memory and walk through the night.

Table of contents

1. What does sleepwalking mean?
2. This is what happens when you sleepwalk
3. Causes and Triggers of Sleepwalking
4. Is sleepwalking harmful?
5. Avoid sleepwalking
6. Conclusion

1. What does sleepwalking mean?

Sleepwalking, also known as "somnambulism" in science, is a sleep or waking disorder, which is one of the so-called parasomnias (sleep interruptions). The myth occurs more frequently in children, but doctors say that up to 7% of adults also occasionally wander around in their sleep. The unusual condition in which we get up without really waking up from sleep, wander around the house and have no memory of our nighttime excursion the next day, lasts in most cases only a few seconds to minutes and usually occurs mainly in the bedroom. There can be different reasons why we wander around at night and, depending on the severity, can also pose serious risks.

2. This is what happens when you sleepwalk

When sleepwalking, some areas of the brain are awakened from sleep and activated, while another part remains asleep. Those affected are thus put into a state between being awake and sleeping and are, so to speak, "incompletely awake". Various studies in sleep research show that during sleepwalking, the areas of the brain that control our movement and motor skills are as active as when we are awake, whereas other important areas, such as those responsible for memory formation and interaction with the environment, do not deviate from their typical sleep activity.

Our brain continues to sleep, which is why we are in a trance while we are walking around and have little to no use of important nerve and brain functions such as orientation, pain perception and our general ability to interact and react. This means that sleepwalkers get up, walk around or even eat a meal, but are unresponsive and have no memory of being awake the next day.

3. Causes and triggers of sleepwalking

The causes of this unusual phenomenon are not yet fully known. Sleepwalking occurs exclusively in the deep sleep phases or in the transition from deep sleep to waking. It has therefore, although often assumed, nothing to do with dreaming and cannot even be part of a dream sleep phase (REM sleep), because here the so-called sleep paralysis usually protects us from uncontrolled movements.

Scientists suspect that deep sleep is generally more susceptible to disruption and less stable in sleepwalkers. During sleep, they react more sensitively to external stimuli (noise, light or touch) or to the body's own stimuli (urinary urge, stress, pain), which then trigger incomplete awakening. The maturity of the central nervous system could also play a decisive role in the reaction to stimuli during sleep and influence whether or not someone sleepwalks. This would also explain why children are affected more often than adults. At the young age of 4 to 8, the brain is still developing and the central nervous system is not fully developed.

By the way: According to researchers, the children of sleepwalkers have a 60% risk of becoming sleepwalkers themselves, as a tendency to sleepwalking could also be genetic and related to the inherited maturation development of the central nervous system.

Other possible triggers for sleepwalking at a glance:

4. Is sleepwalking harmful?

Most of the time, those affected cannot remember their nighttime excursions the next morning and only find out that they are sleepwalking when another person is present. Sleepwalking is basically a relatively harmless sleep disorder that rarely occurs, especially in adults. Nevertheless, the "half-awake" state also poses risks due to the uncontrolled activity, for example when sleepwalkers leave the house unknowingly or handle dangerous objects such as scissors, knives, etc. Those affected are not fully conscious in these moments, cannot assess risks or react adequately to dangers. If you or a family member suffer from occasional sleepwalking, it is therefore advisable to secure the sleeping area and, for example, lock doors and windows at night or remove potentially dangerous objects from the bedroom.

5. How can I avoid sleepwalking?

Illness, stress or a lack of relaxation can put a strain on the nervous system and increase sensitivity to stimuli during sleep. A peaceful and undisturbed sleep is therefore a good prerequisite for avoiding being startled or waking up from deep sleep and preventing sleepwalking from occurring in the first place. If there is no serious illness behind a tendency to sleepwalk, it may help to deliberately wind down before going to sleep and support both physical and mental relaxation in order to promote sleep overall and avoid waking up during the night.

Here you will find our relaxation tips and in this article you will learn which calming and natural extracts can help you relax before sleep.

Watch out! You've probably heard that you shouldn't wake up sleepwalkers - and for good reason! Suddenly waking up from deep sleep can not only be extremely surprising, but can also be confusing for the person affected or even lead to panic, aggressive or unpredictable behavior. It's better to gently guide sleepwalkers back to bed, where they can usually calm down quickly and go back to sleep.

6. Conclusion

• Sleepwalking refers to the unconscious mixed state of wakefulness and sleep in which the body is active but the mind remains asleep.

• Sleepwalkers awaken incompletely from deep sleep and usually cannot remember the waking phase.

• Possible causes of sleepwalking include a low level of maturity of the nervous system and a low sensitivity to stimuli during deep sleep, for example due to stress, psychological strain or illness.

• Sleepwalking is generally not harmful, but it can lead to dangerous and risky situations.

Best regards and see you soon!