Somniloquy

Somniloquy

Somniloquy or sleep-talking is a parasomnia that refers to talking aloud in one's sleep. It can be quite loud, ranging from simple sounds to long speeches, and can occur many times during sleep. Listeners may or may not be able to understand what the person is saying.

Sleep-talking usually occurs during transitory arousals from NREM sleep, which is when the body does not move smoothly from one stage in NREM sleep to another, and they become partially aroused from sleep. Further it can also occur during REM sleep at which time it represents a motor breakthrough (see sleep paralysis) of dream speech, words spoken in a dream are spoken out loud.

Sleep-talking can occur by itself or as a feature of another sleep disorder such as:
*REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) - loud, emotional or profane sleep talking
*Sleepwalking
*Night terrors - intense fear, screaming, shouting
*Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED)

Sleep-talking is very common and is reported in 50% of young children, with most of them outgrowing it by puberty, although it may persist into adulthood (about 5% of adults are reported to talk in their sleep). It appears to run in families. Sleep-talking can be associated with fever.

Sleep-talking by itself is harmless; however, it can wake up others and cause them —especially when misinterpreted as conscious speech by an observer. If the sleep-talking is dramatic, emotional, or profane it may be a sign of another sleep disorder (see above). Sleep-talking can be monitored by a partner or by using an audio recording device; devices which remain idle until detecting a soundwave are ideal for this purpose.

Sufferers of sleep-talking have no control over what they say and can say things that they would not say when conscious. In order to prevent sleep-talking a mouthguard may be worn.

External links

* [http://sleepeducation.com/Disorder.aspx?id=16 SleepEducation.com]
* [http://www.stayinginshape.com/3osfcorp/libv/p04.shtml OSF Healthcare]
* [http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/sleeptalk.html The Sleep Well]
* [http://www.experienceproject.com/group_profile.php?g=1736 Sleep Talking Personal Accounts & Support]
* [http://www.NateatNight.com/ Example of a man sleep talking]
* [http://www.sleeponthemic.com/ Regular Recordings and Discussion of Sleeptalk]
* [http://www.echonyc.com/~ngraham/ Somniloquies in the form of poems, audio and video pieces by Nancy Graham]
* [http://www.pentameonus.com/ Home of Matthew James' Religious Somni-Sync Studies.]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Somniloquy — Som*nil o*quy, n. A talking in sleep; the talking of one in a state of somnipathy. [R.] Coleridge. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • somniloquy — [sämnil′ə kwē, səmnil′ə kwē] n. 〚< L somnus, sleep (see SOMNUS) + loqui, to speak〛 1. the act or habit of talking while asleep 2. the words so spoken somniloquist n. * * * …   Universalium

  • somniloquy — talking in one s sleep, 1847, from somni , comb. form of somnus sleep (see SOMNOLENCE (Cf. somnolence)) + loqui to speak (see LOCUTION (Cf. locution)). Related: Somniloquence; somniloquent (1804); somniloquist; somniloquous; somnilo …   Etymology dictionary

  • somniloquy — [sämnil′ə kwē, səmnil′ə kwē] n. [< L somnus, sleep (see SOMNUS) + loqui, to speak] 1. the act or habit of talking while asleep 2. the words so spoken somniloquist n …   English World dictionary

  • Somniloquy (pram EP) — Infobox Album Name = Somniloquy Type = EP Artist = Pram Released = 2001 Recorded = Genre = Avant garde Length = Label = Domino Records Producer = Reviews = Last album = This EP = Somniloquy (2000) Next album = Track listing# Mother of Pearl # The …   Wikipedia

  • somniloquy — noun a) The act or habit of talking in ones sleep. b) The words thus uttered. Syn: sleeptalking …   Wiktionary

  • somniloquy — Talking under the influence of hypnotic suggestion. SYN: sleeptalking (2), somniloquence (2), somniloquism. [L. somnus, sleep, + loquor, to speak] * * * som·nil·o·quy kwē n, pl quies the action or habit of talking in one s sleep * * *… …   Medical dictionary

  • somniloquy — n. act of talking while asleep …   English contemporary dictionary

  • somniloquy — som·nil·o·quy …   English syllables

  • somniloquy — /sɒmˈnɪləkwi/ (say som niluhkwee) noun the act or habit of talking while asleep. {Latin somnus sleep + i 1 + loquy; based on the pattern of soliloquy} –somniloquist, noun …  

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