The phenomenon of talking during sleep

Sleep talking, also known as somniloquy, is a phenomenon that occurs in a majority of individuals at some point in their lives. Researchers are interested in understanding the reasons behind this behavior and the individuals we believe we are communicating with while sleep-talking.

During sleep, the brain remains active as it goes through two types of sleep, including rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM, which consists of three stages.

During the different stages of sleep, our brain waves gradually decrease in frequency and increase in amplitude, ultimately leading to deep slow-wave sleep at stage three. Sleep talk can occur during transitory arousal, which is when a sleeper partially wakes up while transitioning between stages.

During REM sleep, our eyes move quickly behind closed lids and our brain becomes more active, resembling our awake state. The brain has two structures that regulate our sleep-wake cycle, functioning similar a light switch.

The brain is made up of various structures responsible for regulating sleep-wake cycles. One such structure is the reticular activating system (RAS), which is a network of neurons in the brainstem. The RAS releases neurotransmitters that contribute to wakefulness and the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. Another important structure is the ventrolateral pre-optic nucleus (VLPO), which is located in the hypothalamus.

During REM sleep, the VLPO structure releases neurotransmitters that inhibit motor neurons and prevent individuals from physically acting out their dreams. This is beneficial since REM sleep is when most dreams occur and they tend to be more vivid.

Sleep talking is triggered by a failure of neurotransmitters in the VLPO which usually stop us from moving around during REM sleep. This leads researchers to refer to it as a motor breakthrough, where our mouth and vocal cords become briefly active, resulting in sleep talking.

Sleep talking is associated with overstimulation of the nervous system caused by anxiety and stress, along with factors such as alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, and excessive screen time before bedtime. Although sleep talking is experienced by many individuals at some point in their lives, it remains relatively uncommon overall.

The frequency of sleep talking varies, with even frequent sleep talkers talking every four nights or so. These conversations, if any, are often limited in length. Previously, it was widely believed that talking while asleep had very little impact or response from the sleeping individual.

An international team of researchers is using lucid dreaming, a state where the sleeper is aware they're dreaming, to study sleep in a more interactive way.

Studies have shown that individuals who practice lucid dreaming can develop the ability to perform basic mathematical operations, respond to yes or no inquiries, and distinguish between different sensory stimuli while in the REM sleep phase.

Future Possibilities in Sleep Research: Researchers could potentially gather information about our dreams through direct communication during sleep. This would involve asking individuals questions, providing guidance during nightmares, and finding inspiration in the surreal nature of the dream world.

Sleep experts suggest that maintaining a consistent bedtime routine can contribute to achieving a night of uninterrupted sleep. 

In summary, sleep talking, or somniloquy is a commonly observed phenomenon that occurs in most individuals at some point in their lives. 

During sleep, the brain remains active and goes through different stages that include REM and non-REM, with a progression of brain wave frequencies leading up to stage three where deep slow-wave sleep occurs. 

Sleep talking is caused by a neurotransmitter failure in the VLPO, resulting in a motor breakthrough. Factors such as stress, anxiety, alcohol, caffeine, and excessive screen time can overstimulate the nervous system and contribute to sleep talking.

Researchers are currently studying interactive sleep communication and the importance of maintaining a consistent bedtime routine for quality sleep