Modifications of sleep structure by brief forced awakenings at different times of the night

• Published in: Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology Vol. 75; no. 3; pp. 141 - 147
• Main Authors: Foret, J., Touron, N., Clodoré, M., Benoit, O., Bouard, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.1990
• Subjects: Adult; Arousal - physiology; Circadian Rhythm; Forced interruptions; Humans; Models, Biological; Reaction Time; REM latency; Sleep cycle structure; Sleep Stages - physiology; Sleep, REM - physiology; REM latency; Sleep cycle structure; Forced interruptions
• ISSN: 0013-4694; 1872-6380
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-4694(90)90167-I

Four subjects were awakened once a night for 10 min at either 01.30, 03.30 or 05.30 h. During the walkingintervals, they performed a mental task while remaining in bed. The awakenings did not significantly modify the amount of different stages during subsequent sleep with no efeect of time of occurrence in the night. In contrast, the timing of the awakening withinthe cycle had a significant influence on REM cycle structuee. If awakening occurred during a REM episode or shortly thereafter, the following inter-REM interval was shortened; if it occurred late in the cycle, that is shortly before a REM episode, it increased the inter-REM interval beyond the reference length of the corresponding uninterrupted cycle. An explanation based on a model of sleep which implies the simulatneous activity of REM-on and REM-offneurones is proposed.