title: The thalamus participates in the regulation of the sleep-waking cycle. A clinico-pathological study in fatal familial thalamic degeneration.
abstract: 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.
authors: Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Tinuper
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Montagna
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Medori
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Cortelli
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zucconi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Baruzzi
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Lugaresi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D013874:Thiopental