Thermoregulation during Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Abstract

Interactions between the regulation of sleep and the regulation of body temperature are extensive. Major aspects of thermoregulatory control are altered by the sleep–waking state. Sleep in mammals is accompanied by reductions in metabolic rate, increased heat loss, and a fall in body temperature. Homeostatic responses to thermal stress are diminished during sleep. Sleep is suppressed in moderately warm or cold environments. Manipulation of body temperature (e.g., hot bath immersion prior to bedtime) can promote sleep in humans. Brain mechanisms that control sleep are anatomically and functionally coupled to thermoregulatory mechanisms. Understanding the thermoregulatory control of arousal states may suggest novel strategies for treating human sleep disorders.