title: The detection of brief daytime sleep episodes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study we evaluated the characteristics of sleep-onset detection (during daytime nap opportunities) as a function of differing sleep lengths among healthy, asymptomatic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty subjects were randomized into a Latin square design in which each subject received 1, 5, 10, and 20 minutes of sleep during an MSLT. Subjects were asked after each nap if they fell asleep. The rate of sleep detection was analyzed as a function of sleep duration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three subjects detected sleep onset after 1 minute of sleep, 7 subjects after 5 minutes of sleep, 10 subjects after 10 minutes of sleep, and 14 after 20 minutes of sleep (chi 2 = 9.63, p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data indicate the importance of sleep duration in an individual's ability to detect the occurrence of sleep. Importantly, only three subjects detected sleep after 1 minute of sleep, emphasizing the dangerous nature of brief sleep episodes in the context of public safety.
authors: Henry Ford Hospital, Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Detroit, Mich., USA. Lronca@aol.com
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Rosenthal
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Nykamp
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Day
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Syron
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Roehrs
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Fortier
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Roth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors