History Of Sleepwalking

The History and Importance of Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a disorder of parasomnias that occurs during NREM, also known as “disorder of arousal.” It has held many other names in the past like: oneirodynia, noctambulism, comavigil, and somno-vigilia. The brain is unable to fully awaken from slow-wave sleep, but the motor functions still operate clumsily with little nervous system reaction. Sleepwalking usually happens around the second and third hour of sleep, due to a delta build up right before REM sleep or from sleep deprivation. The person rises and walks around doing sometimes simple or complex activities, but are never aware of the acts. During sleepwalking, many things are altered, impaired, and reduced; like the consciousness, judgment, stimuli reactions, communication, and memory.

The earliest records of sleepwalking, according to James Prichard, starts with stoic philosopher Diogenes Laërtius, who lived in the third century AD, and Galen, who practiced medicine in the second century. Laërtius read, wrote, and fixed his works while

2.5% of the population is effected by sleepwalking except children whom are effected six times more than that percent, but sleepwalking is not at all rare. Sleepwalking usually occurs in children, ages 4 to 7, and usually dies out. If children are asked, a very rare few recall being scared and having to run, hide, defend themselves against threats, but don’t remember actually doing anything. Adults have very low rates of sleepwalking and if they do, it is usually because they sleepwalked when they were a child and are continuing that act. High percentage of adults that sleepwalk where diagnosed with a personality disorder like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive traits, phobias and depression. If elderly still sleepwalk, upon being awakened they may suffer a period of confusion and loss of