Sleepwalking (somnambulism) most often occurs during deep, non-REM sleep (called N3 sleep) early in the night. Sleepwalking is much more common in children and young adults than in older adults. This is because as people age, they have less N3 sleep. Sleepwalking tends to run in families.

What stage does somnambulism occur in?

Sleepwalking is a disorder of arousal, meaning it occurs during N3 sleep, the deepest stage of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.

Why does sleepwalking happen?

What Are the Causes of Sleepwalking? Sleep experts believe that sleepwalking normally happens when a person is in a stage of deep sleep and gets partially awoken in a way that triggers physical activity while remaining mostly asleep.