Does the mild sleep loss drive the homeostatic regulation of sleep?

Abstract

The present study examined whether the homeostatic regulation of sleep will be driven by the mild sleep loss (partial sleep deprivation). Following the 4-night home-monitored customary sleep, 5 volunteers (age 19-25yrs) took part in the 4 successive night polysomnograph at sleep laboratory. Bed time was set at 11:00pm in the first, second and fourth nights, whereas at 2:00am in the third night. Rise time was 7:00am in common; the third night had time in bed restricted to 5 hours. In contrast to adaptation of the first night effect (stressful night) seen across nights in terms of sleep variables related to REM sleep, significant increase of \%NREM sleep and EEG delta-band power occurred during the initial 3 hours of sleep in the third night. Improvement of perceived sleep was also observed in the third night except sleepiness. The present study seems to supply the basic evidence supporting a potential participation of homeostatic regulation in the sleep restriction treatment applied to insomnia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)