Sleep driving

Rare sleep phenomenon

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Sleep driving,^[1] also known as sleepwalk driving,^[2] is a rare phenomenon where the person drives a motor vehicle while they are sleepwalking. If stopped by police, sleepwalk-drivers are totally incapable of having any interaction with the police, if they are still sleepwalking during the event.^[3] Sleepwalk-driving can occur to people who normally don't experience sleepwalking, since some medications, especially zolpidem and eszopiclone, can cause sleepwalking as unwanted side effect.^[4]

Cases

A case of a fatal hit-and-run accident involving the driver claiming to be sleep-driving has been recorded. However, no evidence of the claims could be found by a sleep expert during the following trial.^[5]^[6]

References

^ Sobo, Frank (2004). Crumpet Strumpet. Nightengale Press. ISBN 9780974334837. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^ Roman, Frank (22 September 2012). "Why Sleepwalk When You Can Sleepdrive". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^ Pressman, Mark R. (2 March 2011). "Sleep driving: sleepwalking variant or misuse of z-drugs?". Sleep Medicine Reviews. 15 (5): 285–292. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2010.12.004. PMID 21367628. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^ Woodbury, Emily (18 August 2021). "You've heard of sleepwalking, but what about sleep-driving?". Rv Travel. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^ Russell, Mark (2 November 2021). "Expert doubts sleepwalk in fatal hit-run". Canberratimes.com.au. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^ Mitchell, Georgina (2021-11-02). "Troy Grant's father 'drinking red wine, dozing in chair' before hit-and-run, court told". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-08-11.

Sleep and sleep disorders

Stages of sleep cycles

Brain waves

Alpha wave
Beta wave
Delta wave
Gamma wave
K-complex
Mu rhythm
PGO waves
Sensorimotor rhythm
Sleep spindle
Theta wave

Sleep disorders

Anatomical	Bruxism Mouth breathing Sleep apnea Catathrenia Central hypoventilation syndrome Obesity hypoventilation syndrome Obstructive sleep apnea Periodic breathing Snoring
Dyssomnia	Excessive daytime sleepiness Hypersomnia Insomnia Kleine–Levin syndrome Narcolepsy Idiopathic hypersomnia Night eating syndrome Nocturia Sleep state misperception
Circadian rhythm disorders	Advanced sleep phase disorder Cyclic alternating pattern Delayed sleep phase disorder Irregular sleep–wake rhythm Jet lag Non-24-hour sleep–wake disorder Shift work sleep disorder
Parasomnia	Nightmare disorder Night terror Periodic limb movement disorder Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder Sleepwalking Sleep driving Sleep-talking
Benign phenomena	Dreams Exploding head syndrome Hypnic jerk Hypnagogia / Sleep onset Hypnopompia Sleep paralysis Sleep inertia Somnolence Nocturnal clitoral tumescence Nocturnal penile tumescence Nocturnal emission
Treatment	Sleep diary Sleep hygiene Sleep induction Hypnosis Lullaby Somnology Polysomnography
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