Each night, people go through several cycles of non-REM and REM sleep. Sleepwalking (somnambulism) most often occurs during deep, non-REM sleep (called N3 sleep) early in the night.

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 do Sleepwalks occur?

Sleepwalking occurs after the teenage years. Sleepwalking causes daytime sleepiness. Stress, anxiety, or other psychological factors appear to contribute to sleep disturbances. You think that there might be a medical cause for the sleepwalking, such as a seizure disorder, sleep apnea or a limb movement disorder.