Somnambulism

Somnambulism, also sleepwalking, dissociative mental state in which the individual rises from sleep, with little awareness of surroundings, to perform what appear to be conscious motor activities. Sleepwalkers commonly perform actions, such as looking for lost objects, that reflect stressful incidents that occurred during waking hours. The condition is most frequent among adolescents, although adults may be affected as well. Electroencephalograph readings indicate that sleepwalking occurs during deep sleep, when dreams are absent. Sleepwalking, often accompanied by talking during sleep, rarely results in injury; if infrequent, it is not considered a sign of serious mental disorder.