Circadian motor asymmetries before and after prolonged wakefulness in humans.
It was hypothesized that the relative superiority of the non-dominant hand movements during late evening could arise from a more pronounced homeostatic deactivation of the left hemisphere. We tested such hypothesis collecting motor activity before and after prolonged wakefulness. Fifty-one right-handed subjects wore actigraphs on both left and right wrist for three consecutive days (baseline-sleep deprivation-sleep recovery). We replicated higher motor activity in left hand respect to the right hand at 22:00 and 23:00 h, but only in baseline condition. The results provide the evidence that circadian motor asymmetries do not seem to express homeostatic processes.
Natale
Vincenzo
V
Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy. vincenzo.natale@unibo.it
Martoni
Monica
M
Esposito
Maria José
MJ
Fabbri
Marco
M
Tonetti
Lorenzo
L
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness