Diurnal Rhythms of Sleep In The Rat: Augmentation of Paradoxical Sleep Following Alterations of The Feeding Schedule

Abstract

Rats placed on a fixed light schedule have an increase in running and feeding behavior during the dark part of the cycle (Stewart 1898, Siegel and Stuckey 1947) and an increase in Sleep during the light phase (Mouret 1969). From these earlier studies emerges the point that light is the main ‘zeitgeber’ of the rhythm of activity of rats. However the possible importance of alterations of the feeding schedule in these experiments has not been considered. This paper will deal with certain alterations of the sleep and activity rhythms in the rat that result from limiting the access of the animals to food and water to the diurnal hours.