Excitability and recruitment patterns of spinal motoneurons in human sleep as assessed by F-wave recordings.
Summary of "Excitability and recruitment patterns of spinal motoneurons in human sleep as assessed by F-wave recordings."
This study examines the excitability and recruitment of spinal motoneurons in human sleep. The main objective was to assess whether supraspinal inhibition affects the different subpopulations of the compound spinal motoneuron pool in the same way or rather in a selective fashion in the various sleep stages. To this end, we studied F-conduction velocities (FCV) and F-tacheodispersion alongside F-amplitudes and F-persistence in 22 healthy subjects in sleep stages N2, N3 (slow-wave sleep), REM and in wakefulness. Stimuli were delivered on the ulnar nerve, and F-waves were recorded from the first dorsal interosseus muscle. Repeated sets of stimuli were stored to obtain at least 15 F-waves for each state of vigilance. F-tacheodispersion was calculated based on FCVs using the modified Kimura formula. Confirming the only previous study, excitability of spinal motoneurons was generally decreased in all sleep stages compared with wakefulness as indicated by significantly reduced F-persistence and F-amplitudes. More importantly, F-tacheodispersion showed a narrowed range of FCV in all sleep stages, most prominently in REM. In non-REM, this narrowed range was associated with a shift towards significantly decreased maximal FCV and mean FCV as well as with a trend towards lower minimal FCV. In REM, the lowering of mean FCV was even more pronounced, but contrary to non-REM sleep without a shift of minimal and maximal FCV. Variations in F-tacheodispersion between sleep stages suggest that different supraspinal inhibitory neuronal circuits acting on the spinal motoneuron pool may contribute to muscle hypotonia in human non-REM sleep and to atonia in REM sleep.
Affiliation
Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany, farid.salih@charite.de.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Experimentation cerebrale
ISSN: 1432-1106
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21717101
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2763-3
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Sleep Disorders
Conditions characterized by disturbances of usual sleep patterns or behaviors. Sleep disorders may be divided into three major categories: DYSSOMNIAS (i.e. disorders characterized by insomnia or hypersomnia), PARASOMNIAS (abnormal sleep behaviors), and sleep disorders secondary to medical or psychiatric disorders. (From Thorpy, Sleep Disorders Medicine, 1994, p187)
Sleep Stages
Periods of sleep manifested by changes in EEG activity and certain behavioral correlates; includes Stage 1: sleep onset, drowsy sleep; Stage 2: light sleep; Stages 3 and 4: delta sleep, light sleep, deep sleep, telencephalic sleep.
Delta Sleep-inducing Peptide
A nonapeptide that is found in neurons, peripheral organs, and plasma. This neuropeptide induces mainly delta sleep in mammals. In addition to sleep, the peptide has been observed to affect electrophysiological activity, neurotransmitter levels in the brain, circadian and locomotor patterns, hormonal levels, psychological performance, and the activity of neuropharmacological drugs including their withdrawal.
Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic
Dyssomnias (i.e., insomnias or hypersomnias) associated with dysfunction of internal sleep mechanisms or secondary to a sleep-related medical disorder (e.g., sleep apnea, post-traumatic sleep disorders, etc.). (From Thorpy, Sleep Disorders Medicine, 1994, p187)
Parasomnias
Movements or behaviors associated with sleep, sleep stages, or partial arousals from sleep that may impair sleep maintenance. Parasomnias are generally divided into four groups: arousal disorders, sleep-wake transition disorders, parasomnias of REM sleep, and nonspecific parasomnias. (From Thorpy, Sleep Disorders Medicine, 1994, p191)
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