Why people sleepwalk and what happens in the brain during sleep

Sleepwalking, medically known as somnambulism, is a sleep disorder characterized by complex behaviors performed while in a state of deep sleep, making individuals appear awake. These actions can range from walking and talking to performing routine daily tasks.

Several factors can trigger episodes of sleepwalking. These include significant stress, insufficient sleep, irregular sleep schedules, and extreme fatigue. Additionally, certain medications, particularly those affecting sleep and the nervous system like hypnotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, lithium, and antipsychotics, can be triggers. Alcohol consumption is also a known factor. The risk associated with medication can depend on the type, dosage, and individual response.

Other potential triggers involve medical conditions such as migraines, where a link between migraines with aura and sleepwalking has been observed. Fever, especially in children, can also induce sleepwalking by disrupting sleep cycles. Sleep-related breathing disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea, have been associated with a higher prevalence of sleepwalking, possibly due to interrupted sleep and reduced oxygen supply to the brain. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERB) and Parkinson's disease have also been noted in some research as potentially linked to sleepwalking episodes.