Which of the following is an example of a parasomnia?

• A. Sleepwalking, night terrors, REM sleep behavior disorder
• B. Insomnia, hypersomnia
• C. Sleep apnea
• D. Narcolepsy

Answer: (A)

Parasomnias are unusual behaviors or movements that occur during sleep or when falling asleep or waking. The example given—sleepwalking, night terrors, and REM sleep behavior disorder—fits this category because these events happen during sleep itself and involve active behaviors, not simply trouble with falling asleep, staying asleep, or breathing during sleep.

Sleepwalking and night terrors are arousal disorders from deep non-REM sleep; the person is not fully conscious and may have little or no memory afterward. REM sleep behavior disorder involves acting out dreams during REM sleep when normal muscle atonia is lost, leading to movements or vocalizations.

In contrast, insomnia and hypersomnia relate to the amount or quality of sleep rather than disruptive sleep behaviors. Sleep apnea centers on breathing interruptions during sleep, which fragments sleep but isn’t a parasomnia. Narcolepsy is a sleep-wake disorder characterized by sudden sleepiness and other features like cataplexy, not a sleep-time behavior.