Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Erica on 26/07/2008 15:08:14

Title: If we're paralysed whilst sleeping, how do we sleep walk and sleep talk?
Post by: Erica on 26/07/2008 15:08:14: Erica asked the Naked Scientists:

If the body basically paralyses itself when it is asleep, how is it we talk, and even walk, while sleeping?

-Erica, New York

What do you think?
Title: Re: If we're paralysed whilst sleeping, how do we sleep walk and sleep talk?
Post by: lightarrow on 26/07/2008 16:21:30: Quote from: Erica on 26/07/2008 15:08:14
Erica asked the Naked Scientists:

If the body basically paralyses itself when it is asleep, how is it we talk,
and even walk, while sleeping?

-Erica, New York

What do you think?
Presumably, because in those cases the body is not paralyzed. The risk of an accident in that condition is high, so probably it's also to prevent it that our body have a temporary paralysis mechanism when asleep.
Title: If we're paralysed whilst sleeping, how do we sleep walk and sleep talk?
Post by: Make it Lady on 01/08/2008 22:57:44: I always thought that we have different phases of sleep and we are only 'paralysed' in some of them.
Title: If we're paralysed whilst sleeping, how do we sleep walk and sleep talk?
Post by: JnA on 02/08/2008 04:11:31: Sleepwalking usually occurs during 'slow-wave' sleep and/or non rapid eye movement sleep. These are when there is no dreaming, so the body does not need to be 'paralysed'
The brain is most active during REM sleep, this is when dreaming occurs and the need for dream paralysis is apparent.
Sometimes there is a little glitch in the brain and someone can wake without the brain fully reconnecting, this can be scary but it usually only take a few minutes for a reboot.
Title: If we're paralysed whilst sleeping, how do we sleep walk and sleep talk?
Post by: TheHerbaholic on 05/08/2008 09:30:28: What JNA was referring to is called sleep paralysis.
Type it in on this forum and read some interesting stories.

When you go to sleep your brain injects a chemical into your body that paralises you while you sleep. People sleep walking haven't had this happen and thats why they act out their dreams. Its not dreams they can get up go to the fridge for food have conversations with people and some have even murdered people in their sleep.