Final answer:
Sleepwalking is a parasomnia where individuals engage in activities from walking to driving, with their eyes open but unresponsive to communication. It mainly happens during stage 3 sleep but can occur at different times for some individuals. Sleepwalking is an involuntary act and not just the acting out of dreams.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a type of parasomnia which is a group of sleep disorders characterized by undesirable motor activity or experiences during sleep. Sleepwalking is a complex behavior where the sleeper can engage in activities ranging from walking to more intricate tasks such as driving, typically with their eyes open but unresponsive to communication. This condition most commonly occurs during the slow-wave phase of sleep, also known as stage 3 sleep, but can happen at any time for some individuals. It's important to note that sleepwalking episodes are not simply acting out dreams, as these typically occur during different stages of sleep. Cases like Scott Falater's, where complex behaviors like murder have been performed while sleepwalking, although rare, illustrate the potential severity of this disorder.