Why do people sleep talk? Posted May 24, 2009 Why do people sleep talk? In order to better understand parasomnias, it is important to understand what happens while we sleep. We start out awake when we lie down, close our eyes, and fall asleep, entering into light sleep, which then quickly gives way to deeper sleep. This is referred to as a sleep cycle, and generally lasts between 90-120 minutes. Sleep cycles again several more times during the night, though as the night progresses. The different stages of sleep are characterized by distinct brain wave patterns, as well as by differences in other physiologic parameters, such as muscle tone, eye movement, heart rate, breathing rate and patterns, and blood pressure. In REM sleep, dreams are most vivid and memorable. As one transitions between the different stages of sleep, there can be brief awakenings, either partial or full, following which most people immediately return to sleep. Sometimes, however, there are strong pulls both to wakefulness and to deep sleep, and the result is that part of the brain continues to be in slow wave sleep, while another part is simultaneously in a state of wakefulness. The behavioral consequence is one of the NREM parasomnias: sleep walking, sleep talking, sleep eating, confusional arousals, night terrors. The person going through one of these is not aware of what she or he is doing and is often incoherent while it is happening, and has no recollection of it after. Dennis Rosen, M.D.

March 26, 2012 Sleep talking, or somniloquy, is the act of speaking during sleep. It can be gibberish or resemble normal speech. Sleep talkers usually seem to be talking to themselves. The utterances can take place occasionally causing people to call out, speak, or produce incoherent language during sleep. People can sometimes act out on their dreams depending on where they are in their sleep cycle. Sleep talking may also occur during transitory arousals when a sleeper transitions from one stage of sleep to another whilst asleep. Sleep talking episodes are typically brief. Most sleep talking takes the form of short phrases, moans, or mumbling. The central symptom of sleep talking is audible expression that occurs during sleep without the person being aware of it happening. It can be gibberish or resemble normal speech. With sleep talking, you may not necessarily be forming coherent words or sentences.