Intracranial pressure and related phenomena during sleep

Abstract

Recordings of intracranial pressure were obtained from 24 patients during many nights of sleep. Symptoms of intracranial hypertension are commonly accentuated during sleep. In 15 patients, large intermittent pressure increases occurred most frequently during paradoxical sleep, and also occurred during light sleep (stage n) in patients with high mean resting intracranial pressures. Increases are accompanied by reduction of cortical blood flow and available oxygen. It is suggested that during certain stages of sleep the metabolic rate increases, producing intermittent cerebral vasodilatation which causes pressure changes.