Be like a postage stamp; stick to one thing until you get there.
Good morning, it’s UniScoops! Whilst today’s newsletter might be about sleep, we’ll be sure to keep it just as exciting as England’s 7-0 win over Croatia last week.
Here’s a taste of what we’re serving today:
What Causes Sleepwalking? 😴
PLUS: Passports as Weapons, Renoir and Love, and Dating an AI 🤖
MEDICINE
What Causes Sleepwalking? 😴
Us sleepwalking to class on a Monday morning 😮💨
Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is one of the most intriguing sleep disorders. People can rise from bed, walk around, eat, or even leave the house, all while still technically asleep. They usually have no memory of the episode. But why does the brain sometimes allow such complex activity during sleep?
Sleepwalking occurs during deep non-REM sleep and involves a mix of genetic, developmental, and environmental factors.
💡 Things to consider
Brain activity in sleepwalking: Normally, during deep sleep, the brain keeps the body still. But in sleepwalking, parts of the brain controlling movement “wake up” while higher reasoning areas remain asleep. This creates a state where the body is active but the mind is still unconscious. It explains why sleepwalkers may perform routine actions but remain confused or unresponsive if spoken to.
When someone wakes up a sleepwalker…
Genetics and childhood prevalence: Sleepwalking is far more common in children, affecting up to 17% at some point. Most outgrow it by adolescence. Family studies show a strong genetic link: if one parent sleepwalked, a child is more likely to as well.
Here comes the sleepwaking-gene-train, choo choo!
Triggers in adults: In adults, sleepwalking is often triggered by stress, sleep deprivation, alcohol, or certain medications. Sleep disorders like sleep apnoea can also play a role. While usually harmless, some episodes can be dangerous if the person injures themselves.
🔎 Find out more
🍒 The cherry on top
🛂 Passports as Weapons: Since Myanmar's 2021 military coup, hundreds of thousands of civil servants have fled the country. However, even abroad, the junta uses passport renewals as a tool of surveillance and control, leaving exiles like schoolteacher Hnin Aye at constant risk. This article follows her journey through underground border crossings, corrupt brokers, and a bureaucratic system rigged against dissidents, while also tracing how governments from Nazi Germany to the McCarthy-era US have weaponised passports against their own citizens. A must-read if you're interested in Politics or History!
🌞 Renoir and Love: This review of the National Gallery's new London exhibition shows how the show focuses on his daring early decades, from the glittering Dance at the Moulin de la Galetteto the surprising reality of an artist who often went hungry yet chose to paint the joyful side of life, even amid war and unrest. A cool read for anyone interested in Art or Art History!
🤖 Dating an AI: In this podcast, Ashleigh Golden, PsyD, and Rachel Wood, PhD, explore the growing phenomenon of AI companions. They unpack how these relationships might reshape the way we connect with other humans, where AI companions differ from (and resemble) everyday chatbots, the part psychologists can play in building ethical AI, and what lies ahead as the technology keeps evolving. Great if you like Psychology, Philosophy, or Sociology!
👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…
Various Dates This Week: Cambridge Interview Webinars Series (inc. Geography, Engineering, Classics, Theology, HSPS, and more…)
Wednesday 7th October:
Thursday 8th October:
Monday 12th October:
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That’s it for this week! We’d like to thank this week’s writer: Rob Folkard.
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