In 1980, a small study found that that 80% of sleepwalkers and 96% of people who have night terrors have at least one other close family member who has one or both conditions.Īnother investigation that focused on identical and non-identical twins supported this finding. People who have night terrors or who sleep walk often have a family member who also does this. When we sleep, the thalamus is less inclined to send this information to the rest of the brain.Īs a result, when we sleep, we are less aware of tactile stimuli and the sounds around us. Most of the information our brain receives from the outside world passes through the thalamus before it is sent out to the parts of the brain that enable us to see or hear, for example. It also acts to dampen of the signals that normally arrive from the senses, including those of hearing, while we sleep. The thalamus is thought to play a key role in maintaining sleep-wake cycles. This appeared to cause the micro-arousals suggestive of night terrors. The tests showed an increased signal coming from the thalamus. She underwent observation in a sleep laboratory to investigate the cause. In one study, a woman began having regular night terrors at the age of 48 years. In some cases, however, damage to or dysfunction of the thalamus has been linked to this phenomenon. Thalamic dysfunctionīrain lesions are an unlikely cause of night terrors. This makes them susceptible to quick arousals, and it increases the chance of parasomnias. Some researchers believe that people who experience sleepwalking or night terrors may have difficulty in maintaining slow-wave sleep. They both occur during slow-wave sleep, the deepest sleep stages, that happen in the early part of the night. Night terrors and sleepwalking appear to be linked. The following factors may also play a role.
In addition, 17.2% had nightmares and 1.8% experienced sleepwalking. In addition, night terrors are often associated with other underlying conditions, such as breathing problems while sleeping, for example, sleep apnea, migraine, head injuries, restless leg syndrome and certain medications.Ī study that assessed 661 people with Parkinson’s disease, aged 43–89 years, reported that 3.9% had night terrors. In 2014, a study of almost 7,000 children aged 8 to 10 years, with a follow-up around age 13, showed that those who were bullied were more than twice as likely to experience night terrors. use or abuse of some medications or alcohol.spending the night somewhere unfamiliar.A number of factors may contribute to night terrors.