Some stochastic properties of sleep spindles

Abstract

The present work utilizes the data obtained from a spindle detection method to study some stochastic properties of this particular type of activity. The results obtained show that: (1) on any given EEG lead, there is no clear evidence of a statistical dependence either between the duration of a spindle (or the interspindle interval) and the duration of the next spindle (or the next interspindle interval) or between the duration of a spindle and the interspindle interval that precedes or follows; and (2) there is evidence of a difference in the spatial distribution of sleep spindles recorded from various brain regions during natural and barbiturate sleeps. This difference may be explained by the degree of inactivation of the ascending reticular activating system in these two types of sleep. © 1973 Psychonomic Society, Inc.