Herbie Murray
Sleep is a complex and fascinating phenomenon that scientists are still trying to fully understand. While we may think we're oblivious to the world when we're asleep, there are numerous surprising things that we might be doing without conscious awareness. From sleepwalking and sleep-eating to talking in our sleep, our bodies and brains can be remarkably active during slumber. Some people even experience sleep misperception, feeling awake even when they're technically asleep. This intriguing aspect of sleep has sparked curiosity and research, leading to discoveries about the brain's incredible abilities and the potential for multitasking even while we sleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep-talking | 5% of adults and more common in children |
| Sleepwalking | 15% of children aged 2 to 6 and 6% of children aged 6 to 11 |
| Sleep eating | More common in people on restricted diets |
| Sleep sex | 8% of people |
| Teeth grinding | Common in people with stress, anxiety, abnormal bite or sleep apnea |
| Nightmares | 50% of children and a majority of adults |
| Exploding head syndrome | Not harmful but can be distressing |
| Sleep misperception | Common among people with insomnia |
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What You'll Learn
Sleepwalking
While sleepwalking is more common in children, it can persist into adulthood. It is often associated with other sleep disorders, such as restless leg syndrome (RLS), sleep-disorder breathing (SDB), or sleep apnea. Sleepwalking can be dangerous, as people have been known to wander outside, trip or fall, or engage in other risky behaviours. If someone in your household sleepwalks, it is recommended to take safety precautions such as blocking stairs and closing windows before bedtime.
Most people who sleepwalk will not remember the incident upon waking, and may feel confused or disoriented. Sleepwalking usually does not require treatment, but if it is putting the person or others at risk, a doctor may refer them to a sleep clinic for further evaluation and potential treatment.
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Sleep-eating
Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) is a sleep disorder characterised by unusual eating behaviours during sleep. People with SRED sleepwalk and eat and drink without fully waking up or remembering the event afterward. During a sleep-related eating event, people eat food very quickly, often consuming highly caloric foods in strange combinations, such as peanut butter and syrup, that they might not normally eat or enjoy. These episodes can occur multiple times a night and tend to happen when people are only partially awake.
SRED can be dangerous, as people may eat non-food items, eat or drink excessive amounts, or injure themselves by burning themselves or causing fires. It can also lead to insomnia, causing people to feel tired during the day and affecting their overall health and well-being. SRED is much more common in women than in men, with women representing about 65% to 80% of patients. The average age when it first occurs is between 22 and 29 years, and it tends to be a long-lasting problem.
If you suspect you have SRED, it is important to see a sleep doctor. They will ask about the frequency and duration of the eating binges, your medical history, and any past or present medication use. You may also be asked to fill out a sleep diary and undergo a sleep study to help diagnose and treat the disorder. Treatment options are available to manage irregular eating habits and improve sleep quality.
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Sleep misperception
Recent research has delved deeper into the mystery of sleep misperception and may have found an explanation for it. According to study leader Daniel Kay, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, the reason behind why scientists have been missing out on the explanation for this phenomenon is that, traditionally, sleep is understood as a categorical experience. That is, you are either asleep or you are not, and when you are asleep, you cannot be conscious. However, Prof. Kay does not believe that this is "necessarily true". He says, "I think you can be consciously aware and your brain [can] be in a sleep pattern".
The study found that people with insomnia who reported that they had been awake, even when polysomnography showed otherwise, had increased activity in brain areas associated with conscious awareness during the dreamless phase of sleep, or non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. "Good sleepers" who reported falling asleep long before polysomnography recorded them as such also had increased brain activity in the same areas. According to Prof. Kay, both those with insomnia and those who sleep normally may go through an inhibition process when they fall asleep. It is normal during the process of falling asleep for the brain to send inhibitory neurons that make people less and less consciously aware until they have reached a state of deep sleep. However, people with insomnia may not feel as though they are asleep until their brain experiences greater inhibitory activity in areas that are linked to conscious awareness.
Increased inhibitory activity in brain areas related to consciousness might also explain why normal sleepers feel as though they have fallen asleep before a scientific measure shows that they have. In other words, an impairment in this inhibition process may drive sleep misperception. The findings led researchers to hope that they will help devise new strategies for treating insomnia. “In patients with insomnia,” says Prof. Kay, “processes involved in reducing conscious awareness during sleep may be impaired […] One of the strategies for targeting these processes may be mindfulness meditation.”
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Sleep-talking
Sleep talking, or somniloquy, is a sleep disorder defined as talking during sleep without being aware of it. Sleep talking can occur during any stage of sleep and can happen during either rapid eye movement (REM) or non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep. It is most common during adolescence and affects about 5% of adults, although it is more common in children. Sleep talking can be triggered by stress and mental health conditions, and it may run in families.
The utterances made during sleep talking can range from random noises to complete sentences, and they can be either comprehensible or incomprehensible. Sleep talking usually occurs by itself and is often harmless, but in some cases, it may be a sign of a more serious sleep disorder or health condition. Sleep talking can be offensive or vulgar, and it can interfere with the sleep of the speaker or their bed partner or roommate.
If sleep talking occurs suddenly in adulthood or is accompanied by intense fear, screaming, or violent actions, it is recommended to see a sleep specialist. There are no tests needed to diagnose sleep talking, but a doctor may order tests such as a sleep study or sleep recording if there are signs of another sleep disorder. Sleep talking rarely requires treatment, but partners of sleep talkers can try earplugs and white noise machines to drown out the noise. Avoiding stimulants and electronics before bed may also help reduce the occurrence of sleep talking.
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Sexsomnia
The causes of sexsomnia are not entirely clear but may be related to other sleep disorders and external factors like stress, alcohol, sleep deprivation, and certain medications. It is difficult for experts to estimate how prevalent sexsomnia is, as the disorder can occur unexpectedly, and a person may not know they experience it unless another person notices. However, nearly 8% of people at a sleep centre exhibited symptoms of the disorder. Sexsomnia can cause considerable shame and distress for both those who experience it and their partners.
Treatment for sexsomnia depends on the underlying cause but often includes medication, improving sleep hygiene, and reducing stress or triggers. In some cases, a medical diagnosis of sexsomnia has been used as a criminal defence in court for alleged sexual assault and rape cases.
People with insomnia may also experience sleeping without knowing it, a phenomenon known as sleep misperception. Research has found that people with insomnia who reported being awake, even when polysomnography showed they were asleep, had increased activity in brain areas associated with conscious awareness during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. This impairment in the inhibition process may drive sleep misperception, and mindfulness meditation is suggested as a potential strategy for targeting these processes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, people with insomnia may sometimes feel that they're awake, even when they're sleeping. This phenomenon is called "sleep misperception".
No, but researchers have found that the brain can continue to perform simple tasks while asleep. For example, people who are asleep can correctly respond to simple verbal instructions.
Yes, some people experience sleep eating, where they sleepwalk and eat and drink without waking up. This can be dangerous if you eat non-food items or excessive amounts.
Yes, a small number of people suffer from sexsomnia, which is basically sleepwalking but with sexual activity.
