Unusual Behavior or Actions When Sleeping
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Reviewed By:
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, 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.
Content updated on Apr 4, 2024
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Acting abnormal in my sleep
Restless legs relieved by movement
Symptoms in the morning
Vivid dreams
Involuntary muscle twitch while sleeping
Experiencing noises associated with exploding head syndrome
Nightmares during abnormal behaviors
Clenching my teeth
Hypnagogic hallucinations
Punching in sleep
Falling sensations during sleep
Flexing of the legs while sleeping
How Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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People with similar 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
- Whole body sometimes twitches or jerks when asleep
- Abnormal sleep behavior when I have nightmares
- Jerking movements of he legs while sleeping
- Punch or strike out with fists while asleep
- Rocking back and forth on all fours
- Feeling of falling while sleeping
- Teeth grinding while sleeping
- Sucking my finger in my sleep
See full list
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Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizAbout 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
Possible Causes
Generally, Unusual behavior or actions when sleeping can be related to:
- Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs. RLS typically occurs while sitting or lying down. The exact cause is unknown but may be related to a chemical (dopamine) imbalance in the brain. RLS can begin at any age and generally is more common in older people. It can disrupt sleep, interfering with daily activities. Risk factors include low iron, abnormal kidney function, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord problems.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Unusual behavior or actions when sleeping may be related to these serious diseases:
- Sleep-Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder
Sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder (RMD) involves rhythmic, repeated body movements while drowsy or asleep, which most commonly occurs in babies and children but can persist into adulthood. In addition to abnormal movements, the disorder can also manfest with loud humming or other sounds. The exact cause of RMD is unknown. Rare causes include head injury, stress, and brain infection.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have unusual sleep behaviors?
- Do you talk loudly in your sleep?
- Do you move your knees while sleeping?
- Do your abnormal sleep behaviors occur with nightmares?
- Do you punch or strike while asleep?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizFind Similar Symptoms
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Reviewed By:
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, 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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Female, 40s
I was actually very impressed with the results it provided because, although I didn’t mention it during the questionnaire because I thought it was unrelated, it suggested I may have something I’ve actually been diagnosed with in the past.
(Sep 25, 2024)
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1