Join consultant neurologist Professor Guy Leschziner and Professor Russell Foster from the University of Oxford as they delve into the bizarre world of sleepwalking. They share outrageous stories, like a sleepwalker on a motorbike and an artist creating masterpieces in his sleep. The duo explains the intriguing neuroscience behind sleepwalking, exploring sleep phases and triggers like booze and bed squeaks. Plus, they reveal surprising animal sleep behaviors, shedding light on consciousness across species. Prepare for a night of wonder!
Sleepwalking occurs during non-REM sleep, allowing individuals to perform complex actions without recollection due to specific brain regions remaining inactive.
The podcast discusses extreme sleepwalking cases and cutting-edge research, illustrating how environmental stimuli and sleep deprivation can trigger these bizarre behaviors.
Deep dives
Understanding Sleepwalking and Its Mechanisms
Sleepwalking occurs during non-REM sleep when certain areas of the brain remain in deep sleep while others are awake. This condition can lead to complex behaviors such as walking or even driving, as demonstrated by cases of individuals who operate vehicles without any recollection of their actions. The podcast highlights that while individuals often remember their dreams from REM sleep, sleepwalking typically does not occur during this phase due to paralysis of the body. Therefore, understanding the different stages of sleep is key to comprehending why sleepwalking happens and what entails its various phenomena.
Incredible Real-Life Stories of Sleepwalking
The episode shares remarkable anecdotes about extreme cases of sleepwalking, including a woman who rode her motorcycle and drove her car while completely unaware. Another story recounts a person who, in a sleepwalking trance, licked a slug thinking it was a cashew nut, showcasing the bizarre nature of sleep disturbances. These personal accounts reveal the wide spectrum of behaviors exhibited during sleepwalking, emphasizing that these actions can be surprisingly elaborate, ranging from mundane tasks to unexpectedly dramatic endeavors. Such narratives illustrate the fine line between wakefulness and sleep when it comes to cerebral activity.
The Research Behind Sleepwalking
Cutting-edge research into sleepwalking utilizes sophisticated EEG technology to monitor brain activity during episodes, revealing how certain stimuli can trigger these parasomnias. The studies have shown that sleepwalkers often experience vivid sensations and fabrications in their minds while physically engaging with their environment, which they do not remember upon awakening. This exploration into the brain's activity sheds light on the interplay between dreams and reality and raises questions about consciousness during sleep. Furthermore, the role of sleep deprivation and environmental triggers in causing parasomnias is significant, highlighting how lifestyle choices can affect the prevalence of sleepwalking.
Wake up! It’s time for a dreamy new episode of Curious Cases all about the science of sleepwalking.
Listener Abigail has done some strange things in her sleep, from taking all the pictures off the wall, to searching for Turkish language courses. And she wants to know: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
It turns out Abigail is not alone. Hannah and Dara hear weird and wonderful stories of extreme sleepwalkers - from the lady who went on midnight motorbike excursions, to the artist who does all his best work while asleep. They delve into the neuroscience to find out how you can remain in deep sleep while walking, talking or even peeing in your mum's shopping basket. They learn about some cutting edge research where the participants were sleep deprived and then half-woken with scary sounds, and they zero in on the key triggers, from a boozy night out to a squeaky bed.
Contributors
Professor Russell Foster: University of Oxford.
Professor Guy Leschziner: King’s College London and Guys’ and St Thomas’ hospital
Lee Hadwin: the sleep artist
Professor Francesca Siclari: The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience
Producer: Ilan Goodman
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
A BBC Studios Audio Production
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