Sleep-walking in the news: there's a gene for it. Licis, A. et al (2011, Jan 4). Novel genetic findings in an extended family pedigree with sleepwalking. Neurology, vol. 76, 49-52,
The condition is described as "highly heritable". http://tinyurl.com/4np8wgs Readable news item on it at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12265572 which notes that sleepwalkers may do such things as "locating the car keys, unlocking the doors and then driving", although they fail to mention murdering mothers-in-law. the BBC does make a common mistake, though, in saying (summary to the right), "Happens during deep non-dreaming sleep". They presumably mean during non-REM sleep, which is wrong on two accounts. First it's now known that substantial dreaming occurs outside of REM, so equating REM with dreaming sleep is just plain wrong. Second, I believe that sleep-walking has been reported to occur during as well as outside of REM sleep, although EEG records of this are understandably limited. Stephen -------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada e-mail: sblack at ubishops.ca --------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=8637 or send a blank email to leave-8637-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
