Abstract
NORMAL sleep in man consists of two alternating phases which may be distinguished by electroencephalographic (EEG), electromyographic, electro-occulographic, autonomic and psychologic criteria1–3. The initial period of nocturnal sleep is characterized by EEG spindles and slow waves, partial preservation of muscle tone, and regularity of pulse and respiratory rates. After about 90 min, this non-rapid eye movement (NREM) phase of sleep gives way to a period of irregular, low voltage electrocortical activity, bursts of rapid eye movements, profound hypotonia of certain muscles, rapid alterations in cardiorespiratory function and in human dreaming. Ordinarily, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep alternates with NREM sleep four or five times each night, and occupies 20 per cent to 25 per cent of total sleep time.
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WYATT, R., CHASE, T., SCOTT, J. et al. Effect of L-Dopa on the Sleep of Man. Nature 228, 999–1001 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/228999a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/228999a0
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