Most of the time, somniloquy, the formal name for the condition of talking in your sleep, amounts to little more than muttering under your breath. However, some sleep talkers begin speaking in a very light sleep stage and are therefore capable of fully intelligible dialogue and, in some cases, can be brutal confessions that a spouse would not otherwise have heard. . Other sleep talkers, like internet sensation Sleep Talkin’ Man, are downright hilarious, if quite rude at times. The statements of a sleeping Adam Lennard, the man who talks in his sleep, have been immortalized in a blog written by his wife, Karen.
Here’s a recent quote from the STM (Sleep Talkin’ Man) blog: “I will NOT put on my lobster suit and dance in the street. Not even for rhubarb and custard. Go away and leave me alone. My bee costume suits you.” waiting. Bzzzzzzzzz.”
Fortunately for Adam, his waking personality is quite different from his sleeping tone of voice, so the condition hasn’t been too detrimental to their marriage. On the contrary, it is very likely that the blog and the associated merchandising have improved the couple’s standard of living.
Nobody really knows why some people talk at night. Because scientists still don’t fully understand what happens in our brains while we sleep, sleep, dreams, and sleep disorders remain a fascination. Sleep talking is classified as a sleep disorder, although it does not usually require treatment. For most people, talking in sleep rarely occurs and is usually a short-lived experience for the sleeper and their astonished partner, on whom sleep-talking often has a more memorable impact. Sleep talkers usually don’t remember speaking or what they said.
Sleep talking is more common among men and children than among women. Because sleep talkers are often unaware of their behavior or speech, their voices can sound very different from the way they converse when they are awake. Sleep talking can sometimes be induced by a partner striking up a conversation with the sleeper. Scientists think it could also be caused by stress, depression, fever, or lack of sleep.
In many cases, sleep talking is hereditary, although external factors seem to stimulate the behavior. Sleep talking often occurs with other sleep disorders, such as nightmares, confusional arousals, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and REM sleep behavior disorder. If you think you have one or more of these disorders, it’s important to talk to a doctor.
Although sleepwalkers have been known to unleash bizarre, hurtful, or incriminating tirades, the law accepts that sleepwalking is not the product of a conscious or rational mind, making it generally inadmissible in court. Still, unconscious admissions can be problematic, as the romantics point out in their song “When You’re Talking in Your Sleep.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwT9ltDBG14
Although not physically harmful, sleep talking can cause embarrassment and insomnia in the speaker’s partner. If sleep talking persists, some people choose to seek medical attention.
