Unusual Behavior or Actions When Sleeping

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Reviewed By:

Bret Mobley

Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)

Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.

Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

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People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • Abnormal movements while sleeping

  • Are you unable to recall abnormal behaviors or actions that you did while asleep?

  • Abnormal sleep behaviors that happen just before waking up in the morning

  • Banging the head repeatedly into a pillow or mattress when asleep

  • Moving legs eases the unpleasant feeling of legs temporarily

  • Hearing a loud noise when falling asleep or waking up

  • Have dreams almost immediately after falling asleep

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Content updated on Jan 4, 2023

About the symptom

A sleep behavior disorder is when a person physically acts out dreams, with movements and sounds. This problem is associated with the period of sleep when dreams occur, called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. There are many possible causes of sleep behavior disorder, including certain medications and neurologic diseases

Related serious diseases

  • Sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder

    Sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder (RMD) involves rhythmic, repeated body movements while drowsy or asleep. Loud humming or other sounds are sometimes made along with the body motions. It is common in babies and children. The exact cause is unknown, but is seen in children and adults who are not in perfect health. Rare causes include head injury, stress, and infection of the brain.

Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom

  • Do you have unusual behaviors or actions when sleeping?

  • Do you talk loudly in your sleep?

  • Do you bend and straighten your knees often when sleeping?

  • Do your abnormal sleep behaviors happen together with nightmares?

  • Do you punch or strike out with your fists while asleep?

Other Related Symptoms

Similar symptoms or complaints

Reviewed By:

Bret Mobley

Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)

Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.

Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

From our team of 50+ doctors

Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.

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