Sleep walking is initiated in slow-wave sleep and can range from sitting up on the edge of the bed to frantic attempts to escape. People who sleepwalk do not look like they are asleep, but are actually in a deep sleep state. Their eyes are usually open with dilated pupils. Sleep Walking happens usually early after going to bed, or in the morning prior to waking up. It happens during non-REM sleep stages.

One common misconception is that a sleep walker should not be awakened. It is not dangerous to awaken a sleep walker, although it is common for the person to be confused or disoriented for a short time on awakening. Another misconception is that a person cannot be injured when sleep walking. Actually, injuries caused by such things as tripping and loss of balance are common for sleep walkers. Sleep walking is usually a disorder that runs in the family and usually effects children from 6 to 12 years of age commonly disappearing at puberty, but has been know to affect people of all ages.