What is sleepwalking also known as?

Sleepwalking is commonly referred to as somnambulism. This term derives from the Latin words "somnus," meaning sleep, and "ambulare," meaning to walk. It describes a state where an individual walks or performs other complex behaviors while in a sleep state, typically during the deeper stages of non-REM sleep. Somnambulism generally occurs in the first third of the night, often without the sleeper being aware of the activity at the time.

Other terms listed do not describe sleepwalking. Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon that occurs when a person is unable to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up, which is quite different from the active movements involved in somnambulism. Hypnagogic jerks refer to sudden muscle contractions that happen as one is falling asleep, and nocturnal eating syndrome involves episodes of eating during the night while the individual is unaware, but it does not include walking or other complex activities typically associated with sleepwalking.