Automatic behavior

Automatic behavior refers to actions carried out without conscious awareness or voluntary control. These behaviors can occur in a variety of situations and can be observed in individuals with sleep disorders, epilepsy, or other neurological conditions. They can also manifest in healthy individuals under certain circumstances, such as sleepwalking or performing routine tasks.

Definition

Automatic behavior is characterized by a lack of conscious awareness during the performance of an action. These actions can be simple or complex, and they often involve routine activities that the individual has performed many times before. Automatic behavior can be induced by various factors, including sleep deprivation, stress, and certain medical conditions.

Causes

Sleep disorders

Sleep_disorders can lead to automatic behavior, particularly in cases of sleepwalking or sleep_related_eating_disorder. These behaviors often occur during episodes of partial arousal from deep sleep, when the individual is not fully conscious.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is another common cause of automatic behavior. During some types of absence_seizures, individuals may engage in repetitive, purposeless actions, such as lip-smacking, fumbling, or walking in circles.

Other neurological conditions

Automatic behavior can also occur in individuals with other neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's_disease or Parkinson's_disease. In these cases, automatic behavior may be a result of cognitive decline, reduced motor control, or other symptoms associated with the condition.

Healthy individuals

Even healthy individuals can exhibit automatic behavior under certain conditions, such as sleep deprivation or extreme stress. These behaviors often involve routine tasks that have been performed frequently, allowing the individual to complete the task without conscious effort.

Diagnosis

Automatic behavior can be difficult to diagnose, as it often goes unnoticed by the individual and those around them. In some cases, it may be identified through direct observation or reports from friends and family. Medical professionals may also use diagnostic tools such as electroencephalogram (EEG) to assess brain activity and identify potential causes, such as epilepsy.

Treatment

Treatment for automatic behavior depends on the underlying cause. In cases related to sleep disorders or epilepsy, treatment may involve medication or lifestyle changes to help manage the condition. For those with neurological disorders, treatment may focus on addressing the symptoms of the disorder itself. In cases where automatic behavior is not related to a medical condition, individuals may benefit from stress reduction techniques or changes in sleep habits.

See also

• Sleepwalking
• Absence seizures
• Sleep related eating disorder
• Alzheimer's disease
• Parkinson's disease

References

• [1] American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2014). International Classification of Sleep Disorders – Third Edition (ICSD-3). Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
• [2] Blumenfeld, H. (2012). Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases (2nd ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates.
• [3] Holmes, M. D., & Brown, M. (2004). ‘Subtle’ seizures: Clinical and electroencephalographic features. Epilepsy & Behavior, 5(2), 181-187.

Automatic behavior Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia