title: Hypersomnia associated with bilateral posterior hypothalamic lesion. A polysomnographic case study.
abstract: We examined an obese 58-year-old patient with a bilateral posterior hypothalamic lesion of unknown etiology. A 24-hour polysomnography revealed a markedly increased total sleep time (17.6 h). During daytime, only 3 continuous wake phases occurred. REM periods occurred only between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. We conclude from our results that, similar to the results from animal experiments, the posterior hypothalamus in humans plays a critical role in the maintenance of wakefulness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. eisen@nefo.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eisensehr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noachtar
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Schlippenbach
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uttner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kleine
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seelos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Helmchen
mesh_terms: D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001831:Body Temperature; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007034:Hypothalamus, Posterior / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017286:Polysomnography
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones