If you’ve ever mumbled something you shouldn’t have while sleeping, you’re going to wish you had read this article sooner…
Although sleep talking is possible during different stages of sleep, it’s most coherent during the REM stage. During stages three and four, known as NREM sleep, it’s all meaningless blabber.
Sleep talking comes in the form of mumbles, whispers, groans, and shouts – but there is no direct link to real conscious thoughts. Don’t worry, you’re in the clear!
Only about 5% of adults exhibit continued cases of sleep talking, with common causes being anxiety, depression, fever, drugs, alcohol, and sleep deprivation. It can also be a by-product of night terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep apnea. Sleep talking that begins for adults past the age of 25 can be connected to other medical issues.
So, the next time you get in trouble for sleep talking you’ll know exactly what to say – “It wasn’t me, it was NREM sleep!”. Unless you’re sleep talking about 700 “tiny mattresses” … then we'll gladly take the blame.