Sleepiness and Sleep State on a 90‐Min Schedule

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Abstract
The effects of REM and slow wave sleep (SWS) on subjective sleepiness were studied in 10 subjects placed on a 90‐min sleep‐wakefulness schedule for either 51/3 or 6 (24‐hr) days. Subjects were permitted to sleep for 30‐min periods separated by 60 min of enforced wakefulness. Sleep recordings showed that sleep onset REM periods occurred frequently; REM and SWS appeared during the same sleep period only 27 times; and REM sleep tended to occur on sleep periods that alternated with SWS periods. Sleepiness was measured using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) given 15 min before (pre‐sleep) and 15 min after (post‐sleep) each sleep period. Average SSS ratings showed a 24‐hr fluctuation in sleepiness. In addition, negative and positive SSS changes tended to alternate with each 90‐min period. Significant correlations were found with post‐sleep SSS ratings and SWS and with pre‐sleep SSS ratings and REM sleep. Differences between pre‐ and post‐sleep SSS scores were also correlated with the sleep states: increased sleepiness was correlated with SWS and decreased sleepiness with REM sleep.

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