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Many people talk or utter incoherent words while sleeping, but they are usually unaware of what they are saying. Sometimes, this mumbling can take the form of clear sentences,
Many people talk or utter incoherent words while sleeping, but they are usually unaware of what they are saying. Sometimes, this mumbling can take the form of clear sentences, which may be difficult for people nearby to understand. Medically, talking during sleep is known as somniloquy. It is classified as a type of sleep-related condition known as a parasomnia. This category includes behaviours such as talking, walking or making unusual movements while asleep.
During sleep, people pass through different stages, including deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Brain activity changes throughout these stages and some people may talk during any of them. The words spoken during sleep do not necessarily mean that a person is thinking about a particular subject or experiencing the same topic in a dream. According to experts, sleep talking may be more common in certain families. It may also be associated with stress, traumatic experiences and conditions such as anxiety or depression. However, the causes vary from person to person, and occasional sleep talking is not necessarily a sign of a serious problem.
Sometimes, words spoken during sleep may appear to resemble a person's daily activities or thoughts. A person may also suddenly utter a sentence while waking up. However, this does not necessarily mean that they have found an answer to a problem they are facing. If sleep talking occurs frequently, begins to disrupt sleep, involves intense screaming or unusual movements, or is accompanied by excessive daytime sleepiness, seeking medical advice is advisable.
