Attempts to induce the rapid eye movement stage of sleep in Macaca mulatta by brain stem stimulation.

Abstract

ABSTRACTDural, orbital, and depth electrodes were chronically implanted in five monkeys, and 473 brain stem stimulations were given during 80 hr of EEG recording on 14 nights of sleep.Although occasional rapid eye movement sleep periods occurred soon after stimulations, no parameters or loci of stimulation consistently provoked REMPs, occurred.Statistical analyses did not demonstrate any precipitation of REMPs, and it is probable that only spontaneous REMPs occurred.When compared with previous reports, these findings emphasize the importance of statistical controls in neurophysiological studies of REMP origin.