Gibberish, urine, and utter chaos: What happens when you sleepwalk - Emmanuel During

翻译人员: Grace Man 校对人员: Yip Yan Yeung

Mumbling fantastical gibberish; devouring blocks of cheese in the nude;

喃喃低语着情节离奇的梦话； 赤身裸体地狂吃奶酪块；

peeing in places that aren’t toilets; and jumping out of windows.

在不是洗漱间的地方随地小便； 以及跳出窗外。

These are all things people have reportedly done while sleepwalking,

这些都是人们梦游时 经常出现的情况。

a behavior that’s mostly benign but can be dangerous in rare cases.

大多数情况下，梦游是无害的， 但极少数时候，梦游可能非常危险。

It's estimated that around 18% of people sleepwalk at least once in their lives.

据估计， 18% 的人 一生当中至少会梦游一次。

So, what exactly is sleepwalking?

那么，梦游到底是什么？

First, we have to understand just how many of our daily activities

首先，我们需要明白 有多少日常生活

do not require our active attention.

并不需要我们时刻保持注意力。

Your prefrontal cortex is your brain's conscious,

前额叶皮质是人类大脑的控制中心，

deliberate, decision-making control hub.

负责着高层次认知活动 以及决策制定等等。

You might decide to get up and walk using your prefrontal cortex,

由于前额叶皮质的作用， 你做出了起床以及走路的决定，

but the intricate coordination of sensory inputs and muscles

但其实与之相伴随的复杂的感官 以及肌肉协调活动

that follows does not require any attention.

并不需要注意力。

Instead, it’s mostly executed by a network of specialized nerve cells

相反，它主要由处于 大脑底部以及脊髓的

along the lower part of the brain and spinal cord,

一组专门的神经细胞网络执行的，

sometimes called “central pattern generators.”

有时这被称为“中枢模式发生器” (central pattern generators)。

These areas govern automatic movements and basic actions related to survival.

这部分区域主要控制 与生存相关的自主运动与基本行为。

People with a REM sleep behavior disorder may enact their dreams

患有 REM（快速眼动） 睡眠行为障碍的人，

while they’re in REM sleep,

会在 REM 睡眠期间做梦，

usually keeping their eyes closed.

这个状态下通常是闭着眼睛的。

However, this is a separate condition.

然而，梦游并不是 在这个状态下发生的。

Sleepwalking arises from a very different stage of sleep—

梦游产生于 另一个睡眠阶段——

the deepest stage of non-REM sleep, which is called “slow-wave sleep.”

非 REM 睡眠的最深层阶段 “慢波睡眠” (slow-wave sleep)。

In this state, the cortex, including the prefrontal cortex,

在这个阶段， 包括前额叶皮质在内的大脑皮质

is essentially turned off.

基本上都处于关机休息状态。

When someone is roused from this stage,

当一个人在这个阶段被叫醒，

they’ll usually appear groggy before either dozing off again

他通常会是昏昏沉沉的状态， 接下来他可能会重新睡着，

or becoming fully conscious.

也可能完全清醒。

For that moment, though, they’re in an intermediate state

在这个时刻，人们其实是处在

straddling sleep and wakefulness.

由睡眠转向清醒的中间状态。

A sleepwalking episode is, essentially, an extreme, prolonged version of this.

梦游则是这种状态的 加长极端版。

When sleepwalking, the prefrontal cortex remains inactive,

梦游时，前额叶皮质 还处于未活跃状态，

so the person doesn’t possess executive, deliberate control over their actions.

所以这时候人们 无法精确掌控自己的行为，

But other parts of their brain are active.

但是他们大脑的其他部分 已经活跃了。

And, as we know, the body is capable of a lot

就像我们知道的， 在前额叶皮质不参与的情况下，

without involving the prefrontal cortex.

身体也可以进行很多活动。

Sleepwalkers avoid obstacles, walk, and speak—

梦游者可以躲避障碍、 走路、说话——

though it's often nonsense.

尽管大部分时候是在胡言乱语。

Most sleepwalkers can do basic things,

大部分梦游者还是可以 做一些基本的事情，

operating in a peaceful, unemotional, dreamless state.

保持在平和、没有情绪、 不在做梦的状态。

In rare cases, sleepwalkers perform more complex tasks like cooking and driving.

在极少数情况下，梦游者会做 更复杂的事情，比如做饭和开车。

They're occasionally guided by physical urges,

有时候他们的行为也会 遵从身体的欲望，

like eating or pursuing sexual activities.

比如吃饭或者寻求性行为。

And some episodes involve the brain’s fight or flight system,

有一些行为涉及到 大脑的打斗或追逐系统，

during which the person might suddenly perceive an imminent danger,

在这个阶段，人们可能会突然感觉到 迫在眉睫的危险，

and vocalize, cry, or even jolt out of bed and run away.

然后发出声音，大声哭喊， 甚至会跳下床然后跑走。

These episodes, called “sleep terrors,”

这被称为“夜惊症” (sleep terrors)，

are more common in young children and usually result naturally.

更常见于儿童， 而后通常就会恢复正常状态。

Indeed, sleepwalking is generally more common in children,

确实，梦游在儿童当中更加常见，

perhaps because the brain areas that control the transition

有可能因为儿童大脑区域中控制 睡眠与清醒过渡的部分还在发育中。

between sleep and wakefulness are still developing.

But the exact mechanisms that cause sleepwalking remain unclear.

但是，造成梦游的准确原因与 具体机制其实我们还不清楚。

Many cases appear to run in families, while others are more mysterious.

很多案例显示可能与家族遗传有关， 但其余的还是未解之谜。

Anything that could lead to partial awakening

所有会导致部分唤醒状态的事情

is thought to increase the likelihood.

都被认为增加了梦游的可能性，

This includes factors that promote deeper slow-wave sleep—

这包括了那些会促进 深层慢波睡眠的因素——

like sedatives, hot sleep environments, and operating on too little sleep—

比如说镇静剂、很热的环境 以及缺少睡眠的情况下工作——

or things that disrupt sleep— like stress and other sleep disorders,

或者那些会打断睡眠的事情—— 比如压力以及睡眠障碍，

such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.

像是睡眠呼吸暂停和不安腿综合征 (restless leg syndrome)

Doctors will usually evaluate these factors and promote habits

医生们通常会评估这些因素，并且 推荐那些有助于健康睡眠的好习惯，

that aid in healthy sleep, such as exercise, stress management,

比如锻炼、压力管理、

and a consistent and sufficient sleep schedule.

保证规律充足睡眠的作息表。

They’ll also often recommend safety measures,

医生们通常也会 出于患者安全考虑提出建议，

like hiding dangerous items, installing door alarms and securing windows.

比如把危险物品藏起来， 安装门上警报器和加固窗户。

If this doesn't help, they'll consider certain medications.

如果这些还不奏效， 医生可能会考虑一些特定药物。

But many of the available treatments for sleepwalking

但是很多针对梦游的现有治疗方法

haven’t yet been rigorously studied,

都未经细致严谨地研究过，

so how they work and how effective they are is not entirely clear.

所以它们的作用机理以及疗效 都还不是完全清楚。

So, what should you do if you encounter a sleepwalker?

所以，如果你看到有人在梦游， 你该怎么做呢？

A common misconception is that rousing a sleepwalker causes irreparable harm.

一种常见误区是叫醒一名梦游者 会造成一些无法挽回的伤害。

Fortunately, this is not true.

幸运的是，这种观点是错误的。

However, trying to forcefully wake them can cause confusion and distress.

不过强行将他们唤醒 会给他们造成困惑和痛苦。

The best practice seems to be to gently guide them back to bed;

最好的方案似乎是 温柔地引领他们回到床上。

and, if they resist, to simply ensure they’re safe until the episode resolves.

但是如果他们反抗的话， 那就保证他们的安全，

等梦游的阶段过去就可以了。