Differential effect of sleep deprivation on the two slow wave sleep stages in the cat.

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of total sleep deprivation on the sleep stages and their interrelations was studied in 10 cats. EEG, EMG and eye movements were recorded for 24 h after 12 h and 24 h sleep deprivation and after no sleep deprivation. Sleep was divided into three stages: Light slow wave sleep (LSWS), deep slow wave sleep (DSWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The total quantities of DSWS and REM sleep in the 24 h recordings increased with deprivation, as did the relative proportion (per cent of total sleep) of these sleep stages. The total quantity of LSWS did not change with sleep deprivation, and the LSWS per cent of total sleep decreased. The changes were most pronounced after 24 h deprivation and in the first hours of recovery sleep. Sleep deprivation reduced LSWS episode length and tended to increase DSWS and REM sleep episode length. The number of sleep cycles was increased, but the length of each cycle was not altered. The results support earlier findings of a functional dissociation between LSWS and DSWS and a functional relationship between DSWS and REM sleep.