What is the term for a condition characterized by sleepwalking?

The term for a condition characterized by sleepwalking is somnambulism. Somnambulism is a specific sleep disorder that occurs during the non-REM stages of sleep, primarily in children, and involves the individual walking or performing other complex behaviors while in a state of partial arousal from sleep. This phenomenon typically occurs in the first third of the night when deep sleep is most prevalent.

In contrast, catalepsy refers to a condition in which an individual displays a lack of response to external stimuli and muscle rigidity, often associated with certain neurological conditions. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulties in falling asleep or staying asleep, resulting in unrefreshing sleep. Parasomnia is a broader category that includes various abnormal behaviors that occur during sleep, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, and sleep talking, but the specific term for sleepwalking remains somnambulism. This distinction helps clarify the nature of sleep disorders and allows practitioners to categorize sleep-related behaviors effectively.