Effect of total sleep deprivation on the dimensional complexity of the waking EEG.
OBJECTIVE
Sleep deprivation can affect the waking EEG that may reflect information processing of the brain. We examined the effect of total sleep deprivation (TSD) on nonlinear dynamics of the waking EEG.


METHODS
Paired-group design.


METHODS
A sleep disorders laboratory in a hospital.


METHODS
Twenty healthy male volunteers.


METHODS
Waking EEG data were recorded from subjects with eyes closed after (a) an 8-hour night's sleep and (b) TSD for 24 hours. The dimensional complexity (D2), as a nonlinear measure of complexity, of the EEG after a full night sleep were compared with those of the EEG after TSD.


RESULTS
The sleep-deprived states had lower D2 values at three channels (P4, O2, and C3) than normal states.


CONCLUSIONS
TSD results in the decrease of complexity in the brain, which may imply sub-optimal information processing of the cerebral cortex. We suggest that the investigation of the relation between nonlinear dynamics of the waking EEG induced by TSD and cognitive performance may offer fruitful clues for understanding the role of sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation on brain function.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University CT, 06520-8042, USA.
J
J
Jeong
D J
DJ
Kim
S Y
SY
Kim
J H
JH
Chae
H J
HJ
Go
K S
KS
Kim
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*