SOMNAMBULISMSOMNAMBULISM

Stacy StruhsAngela ArreolaAmanda Issa

COGS 175March 3, 2008

Stacy StruhsAngela ArreolaAmanda Issa

COGS 175March 3, 2008

OUTLINEOUTLINE

IntroductionEvidence of an Altered

State of ConsciousnessCausesTreatmentsConclusion

IntroductionEvidence of an Altered

State of ConsciousnessCausesTreatmentsConclusion

Common Misconceptions concerning sleepwalkingCommon Misconceptions concerning sleepwalking

A sleepwalker won’t die or have a heart attack if woken

He’s not acting out his dreams (does not occur during REM)

A sleepwalker won’t die or have a heart attack if woken

He’s not acting out his dreams (does not occur during REM)

Sleepwalking?Sleepwalking?

Awake:Brain waves are fine and choppy

when we’re awake, Sleep:

Brain waves get slower, bigger, and more synchronized.

Sleepwalking:Occurs during deep sleep, stages

3 and 4, where brain waves are the slowest and biggest. (Carthill)

Awake:Brain waves are fine and choppy

when we’re awake, Sleep:

Brain waves get slower, bigger, and more synchronized.

Sleepwalking:Occurs during deep sleep, stages

3 and 4, where brain waves are the slowest and biggest. (Carthill)

Sleepwalking as an alternate state

Sleepwalking as an alternate state

Although sensory mechanisms are necessary for consciousness, we can still perceive and therefore respond to them without being aware of them. (Carthill)

The best example of this is sleepwalking….

Although sensory mechanisms are necessary for consciousness, we can still perceive and therefore respond to them without being aware of them. (Carthill)

The best example of this is sleepwalking….

Sleepwalking is an alternate state

Sleepwalking is an alternate state

SleepwalkersMay do dangerous and stupid things, like

walking through glass doorsBUT, they can also do complicated,

distinctively human things, like: engage in sexual acts or even drive away in a car.

The phenomenon of sleepwalking shows that you can get distinctively human behavior without consciousness.

SleepwalkersMay do dangerous and stupid things, like

walking through glass doorsBUT, they can also do complicated,

distinctively human things, like: engage in sexual acts or even drive away in a car.

The phenomenon of sleepwalking shows that you can get distinctively human behavior without consciousness.

Sex is a distinctive human behavior…

Sex is a distinctive human behavior…

“Sleepwalking woman who had sex with strangers”….wha? ( Nowak)

Therefore, sleepwalkers who engage in sexual acts exhibit conscious or distinctive human behaviors in an unconscious state.

FYI“Although men predominate, women also may

instigate sexual behavior in sleep” - Michael Mangan

“Sleepwalking woman who had sex with strangers”….wha? ( Nowak)

Therefore, sleepwalkers who engage in sexual acts exhibit conscious or distinctive human behaviors in an unconscious state.

FYI“Although men predominate, women also may

instigate sexual behavior in sleep” - Michael Mangan

The Sleepwalking Alibi

The Sleepwalking Alibi

Alibi = Sleepwalking?Insane or Sane?Are their actions

premeditated?Would a person do something

while sleeping that they wouldn’t do while awake?

Altered State?

Alibi = Sleepwalking?Insane or Sane?Are their actions

premeditated?Would a person do something

while sleeping that they wouldn’t do while awake?

Altered State?

Differences in EEG (Espa, 2000)

Differences in EEG (Espa, 2000)

CAUSESCAUSES

Disturbed Sleep Cycle (Epsa, 2000)More Common in Children

(15% experience at least one episode)

Genetics (HLA)Extreme Stress, Sleep

DeprivationPersonality Disorders

(Aggression)

Disturbed Sleep Cycle (Epsa, 2000)More Common in Children

(15% experience at least one episode)

Genetics (HLA)Extreme Stress, Sleep

DeprivationPersonality Disorders

(Aggression)

TREATMENTSTREATMENTS

DrugsScheduled Awakenings

(Frank, 1997)Hypnotherapy (Reid,

1981)/Psychotherapy

DrugsScheduled Awakenings

(Frank, 1997)Hypnotherapy (Reid,

1981)/Psychotherapy

Suggestions for a Sleepwalker

Suggestions for a Sleepwalker

Have a complete physicalGo to a sleep lab Try to keep a regular sleep

scheduleAvoid alcohol and drugs,

including prescriptionsSleep in a safe environment

Have a complete physicalGo to a sleep lab Try to keep a regular sleep

scheduleAvoid alcohol and drugs,

including prescriptionsSleep in a safe environment

VideoVideo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvGycrUEQ1M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvGycrUEQ1M

REFERENCESREFERENCES

Nowak, Rachel. “Sleepwalking woman had sex with strangers”. Melboure. 15 October 2004. Newscientist.com. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6540

Mangan, Micheal. “Sleepsex: uncovered”. Philadelphia: Xibris, 2001. Ebook. http://www.sleephomepages.org/books/sleepsex.html

Espa, F., Ondze, B., Deglise, P., Billiard, M., & Besset, A. (2000). Sleep Architecture, slow wave activity, and sleep spindles in adult atients with sleepwalking and sleep terrors

Frank, N. C., Spirito, A., Stark, L., & Owens-Stively, J. (1997). The use of scheduled awakenings to eliminate childhood sleepwalking. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 22, 345-353.

Reid W, Ahmed I, Levie C. Treatment of sleepwalking: a con- trolled study. American Journal Psychology 1981; 35 (1): 27-37.

Nowak, Rachel. “Sleepwalking woman had sex with strangers”. Melboure. 15 October 2004. Newscientist.com. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6540

Mangan, Micheal. “Sleepsex: uncovered”. Philadelphia: Xibris, 2001. Ebook. http://www.sleephomepages.org/books/sleepsex.html

Espa, F., Ondze, B., Deglise, P., Billiard, M., & Besset, A. (2000). Sleep Architecture, slow wave activity, and sleep spindles in adult atients with sleepwalking and sleep terrors

Frank, N. C., Spirito, A., Stark, L., & Owens-Stively, J. (1997). The use of scheduled awakenings to eliminate childhood sleepwalking. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 22, 345-353.

Reid W, Ahmed I, Levie C. Treatment of sleepwalking: a con- trolled study. American Journal Psychology 1981; 35 (1): 27-37.

References Continued

References Continued

Cartmill, Matt. “Animal minds, animal dreams- consciousness and sleep in animals”. Natural history. March, 1998. Http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1134/is_n2_20485352/pg_2

“The Sleepwalking Gene: And The Adult Sleepwalker”. About.com. http://sleepdisorders.about.com/cs/sleepwalktalk/a/walkinggene_2.htm

Mackay, Irene. “The Sleepwalker Is Not Insane”. The Modern Law Review. Vol. 55, No. 5. (Sep., 1992), pp. 714-720.

Nowak, Rachel. “Sleepwalking woman had sec with strangers”. Newscientist.com. (October 2004) 15:46.

Tafti, Dr. Mahdi et al. “HLA and genetic susceptibility to sleepwalking”. Molecular Psychiatry (2003) 8, 114–117.

Cartmill, Matt. “Animal minds, animal dreams- consciousness and sleep in animals”. Natural history. March, 1998. Http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1134/is_n2_20485352/pg_2

“The Sleepwalking Gene: And The Adult Sleepwalker”. About.com. http://sleepdisorders.about.com/cs/sleepwalktalk/a/walkinggene_2.htm

Mackay, Irene. “The Sleepwalker Is Not Insane”. The Modern Law Review. Vol. 55, No. 5. (Sep., 1992), pp. 714-720.

Nowak, Rachel. “Sleepwalking woman had sec with strangers”. Newscientist.com. (October 2004) 15:46.

Tafti, Dr. Mahdi et al. “HLA and genetic susceptibility to sleepwalking”. Molecular Psychiatry (2003) 8, 114–117.