REM sleep deprivation increases preference for novelty in rats.
As a further test of the hypothesis that REM deprivation decreases fear, the behavior of 40 male rats was measured in a Y-maze adapted to test for preference for novelty. Prior to this test, the animals were exposed for 4 days to one of four treatments, i.e., either a dry environment control, a wet environment control, a 2-day REM deprivation period or a 4-day REM deprivation period. During the test both number of grid crossing in the novel and non-novel arms of the Y-maze and three indices of emotionality were recorded. The results were congruent with data we had reported earlier and offered convincing evidence in support of the hypothesis.
D000818:Animals; D004644:Emotions; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005239:Fear; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012892:Sleep Deprivation; D012895:Sleep, REM