Conditioned responses depending on the sleep stages

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Physiological Psychology and Psychophysiology Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 83 - 90
• Main Author: IKEDA, Kazunari
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society for Physiological Psychology and Psychophysiology 31.12.1991
• Subjects: classical conditioning; discrimination learning; NREM sleep; sleep; state dependent learning
• ISSN: 0289-2405; 2185-551X
• DOI: 10.5674/jjppp1983.9.83

This study explored the state-dependency hypothesis of conditioned responses on the sleep stages. Subjects were divided into 2 groups (group A and B). Standard response values were measured on the Ist night. A week later (2nd night) differential conditioning was run in stage 2 for group A while in stage 3+4 for group B. A week after 2nd night (the 3rd night) conditioning effects were measured as the response discrepancy between the 1st and 3rd nights. Using the finger plethysmograph (FP), heart rate (HR) and EEG K-complex (KC) as measures, the subjects' responses to the conditioned stumuli in stage 2 for group A and in stage 3+4 for group B were scored. FP and HR were found to respond to the differential conditioning. Group A subjects conditioned during stage 2 retained their responsiveness in the same stage. Group B subjects conditioned in stage 3+4 retained their responsiveness not only in stage 3+4 but also in stage 2. The hypothesis of sleep stage-dependency of the conditioning responses wes supported in the group A, but not in the group B.