COMPARISON OF STAGE FOUR AND 1-REM SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Abstract

The present experiment permitted a systematic comparison of the effects of Stage 4 and 1 -REM [rapid eye movement] sleep deprivation. One group of Ss [subjects] was deprived of Stage 4 sleep for 7 nights while another was deprived of 1-REM sleep. Measurements of the eeg during sleep and of personality variables revealed mat the 2 types of deprivation are quite different. Stage 4 deprivation resulted in a sharp increase in Stage 2 sleep on deprivation nights while 1-REM deprivation resulted in an Increase In Stage 1 without rapid eye movements. Stage 4 deprivation produced a depressive outlook in Ss while 1 -REM deprivation resulted In a state of higher irritability and lability.