Effects of a daytime nap in the aged.
This study evaluated the effects of the daytime nap on performance, mood and physiological measures in aged individuals Participants were six healthy aged persons (M=72.2 years old) who habitually napped in the afternoon three or more times a week. They participated under two conditions with an interval of 1 week. In the nap condition, the subjects went to bed at 13:00 h and slept for 30 min. In the rest condition, they just watched television. In both conditions, electroencephalogram (EEG), blood pressure, mood and performance were measured before and after a nap or rest. The daytime nap improved performance, decreased subjective sleepiness and fatigue, and attenuated EEG alpha band activity. Moreover, following a nap diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased. These findings suggest that a habitual daytime nap helps aged individuals to maintain their daytime physiological, psychological and behavioral arousal at an adequate level.
Tamaki
M
M
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
Shirota
A
A
Tanaka
H
H
Hayashi
M
M
Hori
T
T
D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012894:Sleep Stages; D014851:Wakefulness