Advances of human core temperature minimum and maximal paradoxical sleep propensity by ambient thermal transients

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 215; no. 1; pp. 25 - 28
• Main Authors: Dewasmes, G, Signoret, P, Nicolas, A, Ehrhart, J, Muzet, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30.08.1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Body Temperature - physiology; Body Temperature Regulation - physiology; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Core temperature minimum; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human circadian rhythms; Humans; Male; Peak of paradoxical sleep propensity; Sleep - physiology; Sleep. Vigilance; Thermal transients; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Thermal transients; Core temperature minimum; Human circadian rhythms; Peak of paradoxical sleep propensity; Human; Thermoregulation; Biological rhythm; Circadian rhythm; Rapid eye movement sleep; Body temperature
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(96)12936-0

By using slow thermal transients of reduced amplitude (±3°C) around 29°C (thermoneutrality in humans sleeping nude) during only 1 night (experimental, EX), we have advanced the minimum of rectal temperature ( T re) and the peak of their paradoxical sleep propensity (PPSP) of sleeping subjects. During this EX night, T re minimum was significantly ( P=0.0001) advanced by 143 min versus that observed during baseline night spent at thermoneutrality. The advance of PPSP was objectivated by the more rapid cumulation of paradoxical sleep ( P=0.02) during the second half of EX night, i.e. strictly after the occurrence (around 0330 h) of the new T re minimum, and by the earlier occurrence of its barycentric point ( P=0.04) between 0330 and 0700 h. The involvement of the central thermoregulatory system on phase-shifting mechanisms is discussed.