Dynamics of slow-wave activity during the NREM sleep of sleepwalkers and control subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the number and distribution of awakenings from slow-wave sleep (SWS) and both the power and dynamics of EEG slow-wave activity (SWA) in sleepwalkers and controls. Somnambulism is considered to be a disorder of arousal from NREM sleep and related to anomalous SWS and SWA. Power spectral analyses have never been used to quantify patients' SWA across sleep cycles.


METHODS
N/A SETTING: N/A PATIENTS: A polysomnographic study was performed on 15 adult sleepwalkers and 15 age- and sex-matched controls.


METHODS
N/A MEASUREMENTS & RESULTS: Sleepwalkers had a significantly greater number of awakenings from SWS than did control subjects. Controls showed a greater decrease in SWA across NREM cycles. Sleepwalkers had a significantly lower level of SWA during the first NREM period, where most awakenings take place.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleepwalkers appear to suffer from an abnormality in the neural mechanisms responsible for the regulation of SWS.
Gaudreau
H
H
Centre d 'étude du sommeil, Hôpital du Sacré-Caéur de Montréal, Québec.
Joncas
S
S
Zadra
A
A
Montplaisir
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D013009:Somnambulism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology