ELI5. Why are we able to move around, adjust blankets, and understand words when asleep, and then not remember anything when we wake up? Why can tell people to scoot over in bed and they do it, but they are still basically asleep?

Question

ELI5. Why are we able to move around, adjust blankets, and understand words when asleep, and then not remember anything when we wake up? Why can tell people to scoot over in bed and they do it, but they are still basically asleep?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Even when you’re asleep, your brain isn’t *competely* off (or you’d be dead).

Even asleep, your subsconscious brain is still humming away, and still controls your body – making little adjustments to keep you comfortable and warm. If you’re in a light enough sleep, it can even process simple verbal commands and follow them without ever bothering to rouse your conscious mind.

If anything, those responses become more automatic, because your conscious mind isn’t awake to analyse them for value. You just hear “move over” and your body moves over.