B2 – Upper Intermediate
People have long been curious about the strange experience of moving around while asleep. Many old beliefs about it, such as the idea that waking someone in this state is dangerous, are myths. Today, science shows that stress, genetics, and poor sleep habits often play a role in these nighttime episodes.
Let’s read the article and see how science clears up the myths about sleepwalking.
https://interestingengineering.com/culture/body-wanders-brain-naps-science-myth-sleepwalking
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to hover on” mean? “Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, belongs to a family of sleep disorders called parasomnias, behaviors that hover on the boundary between sleeping and waking.” Use it in a sentence.
- Define the phrase “to ripple through“.”Deep in stage 3 of NREM, a surge of activity ripples through the motor networks while regions needed for self-awareness and decision-making stay largely offline.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
- What does the adjective “garbled” mean? “Passers-by may receive a blank stare or garbled replies.” Use it in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think people have created so many myths about sleepwalking?
- What everyday factors do you think can trigger sleepwalking episodes?
- What risks might sleepwalkers face if they are not guided or protected?
- Can you think of a time when stress or tiredness affected your sleep in unusual ways?
- How do you think sleep science has changed the way people understand sleepwalking today?