title: Enhancing slow wave sleep with sodium oxybate reduces the behavioral and physiological impact of sleep loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether enhancement of slow wave sleep (SWS) with sodium oxybate reduces the impact of sleep deprivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled design
  
  
  METHODS
  Sleep research laboratory
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight healthy adults (28 placebo, 30 sodium oxybate), ages 18-50 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-day protocol included 2 screening/baseline nights and days, 2 sleep deprivation nights, each followed by a 3-h daytime (08:00-11:00) sleep opportunity and a recovery night. Sodium oxybate or placebo was administered prior to each daytime sleep period. Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and Profile of Mood States were administered during waking hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During daytime sleep, the sodium oxybate group had more SWS, more EEG spectral power in the 1-9 Hz range, and less REM. Mean MSLT latency was longer for the sodium oxybate group on the night following the first daytime sleep period and on the day following the second day sleep period. Median PVT reaction time was faster in the sodium oxybate group following the second day sleep period. The change from baseline in SWS was positively correlated with the change in MSLT and KSS. During recovery sleep the sodium oxybate group had less TST, SWS, REM, and slow wave activity (SWA) than the placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacological enhancement of SWS with sodium oxybate resulted in a reduced response to sleep loss on measures of alertness and attention. In addition, SWS enhancement during sleep restriction appears to result in a reduced homeostatic response to sleep loss.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Medicine and Research Center, St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA. james.walsh@stlukes-stl.com
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Janine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hall-Porter
authors.forename: Kara S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Ehren R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Forst
authors.forename: Denise T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.forename: Rhody D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Eisenstein
authors.forename: Paula K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D018682:GABA Agents; D012978:Sodium Oxybate