The thalamus participates in the regulation of the sleep-waking cycle. A clinico-pathological study in fatal familial thalamic degeneration.
Loss of slow-wave sleep (SWS) and abnormal REM sleep behaviour were associated with a lack of vegetative and endocrine circadian rhythms in a patient with fatal familial thalamic degeneration. Physiological EEG patterns of SWS (spindles, K complexes, delta activity) were absent. EEG fast rhythms could not be induced by barbiturate or benzodiazepine administration. RO 15-1788, a benzodiazepine antagonist, induced arousal and awakened the patient from coma. Pathological findings were severe neuronal loss restricted to the anterior and dorso-medial thalamic nuclei. The clinical and electrophysiological data, together with the pathological correlates, emphasize the role played by the thalamus in the regulation of the sleep-waking and other circadian cycles.
Tinuper
P
P
Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna, Italy.
Montagna
P
P
Medori
R
R
Cortelli
P
P
Zucconi
M
M
Baruzzi
A
A
Lugaresi
E
E
D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D013786:Thalamic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology
D013874:Thiopental