Comparison between ethanol-induced and slow-wave sleep synchronous EEG activity utilizing spectral analysis

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the cortical EEG and EEG power spectra associated with slow-wave sleep (SWS) with those after acute ethanol administration in the rat. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with chronic cortical and temporalis muscle electrodes and intravenous (i.v.) cannulas for drug administration. Ethanol was administered at doses of 1, 2 and 4 g/kg (i.v.) to 3 groups of 4 rats each, respectively. The EEG effects of ethanol were compared to those of slow-wave sleep. Ethanol produced dose-related increases in the mean duration of synchronous EEG episodes. Differences in EEG waveforms between the EEG in slow-wave sleep and ethanol-induced EEG synchrony were detected. Dose-related increases by ethanol in 0–4 Hz spectral power and decreases in 8–13 Hz spectral power were found. These results demonstrated discrete differences between the normal EEG in slow-wave sleep and ethanol-induced EEG synchrony in the rat.