Lunatism
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Lunatism, also known as sleepwalking or somnambulism, refers to the automatic performance of various complex movements and actions during sleep, such as walking or climbing. These actions can be precise and coordinated, but the person remains in a dream-like state with no memory of the events afterward.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
Lunatism, sleepwalking, somnambulism, the automatic performance by certain individuals, so-called lunatics, during nighttime sleep of various complex movements and actions: walking, climbing, and sometimes even some habitual work, etc. In this case, the actions performed can be characterized by great accuracy, skill, and sequence, although the state of consciousness remains dreamlike and twilight-like. Usually, lunatic states last several minutes, rarely hours, after which normal sleep resumes with subsequent complete amnesia for what occurred. L. is by many considered a symptom of latent epilepsy, however this is unlikely (for details see Somnambulism).
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Cite this page
“Lunatism.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/lunatism/