Analysis of polysomnographic events surrounding 252 slow-wave sleep arousals in thirty-eight adults with injurious sleepwalking and sleep terrors.

Abstract

A systematic study of electrophysiologic events [eight-channel EEG, electrocardiogram, electromyogram (EMGs)] surrounding 252 arousals from slow-wave sleep (SWS) in adults with sleepwalking (SW) and sleep terrors (ST) is reported. Hospital-based, overnight polysomnographic monitoring was conducted in 38 adults presenting to a sleep disorders center with injurious SW, ST (21 males, 17 females; mean age 29 years, range 17-69 years). Before nonbehavioral or behavioral arousals from SWS, neither EEG "delta wave buildup," nor heart rate (HR) acceleration, nor tonic/phasic EMG activation was identified. The postarousal EEG demonstrated three patterns: (a) diffuse, rhythmic, delta activity with a typical frequency of 2.2 Hz, a typical amplitude of 85 microV, and a typical duration of 20 s; (b) diffuse delta and theta activity intermixed with alpha and beta activity; and (c) prominent alpha and beta activity. Multichannel, high-voltage, delta activity was observed in <2% of all prearousal periods. HR acceleration emerged abruptly with SWS arousals, with significant changes in mean pre- versus postarousal HR (p < .001). Macrostructural sleep parameters ("sleep architecture") were intact. Therefore, our findings in adults with SW, ST strongly support the classification of SW/ST as disorders of (abrupt) arousal.

• Authors: C H Schenck, J A Pareja, A L Patterson, M W Mahowald
• Journal: Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society (J Clin Neurophysiol) Vol. 15 Issue 2 Pg. 159-66 (Mar 1998) ISSN: 0736-0258 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9563584 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Arousal (physiology)
• Electrocardiography
• Electroencephalography
• Electromyography
• Humans
• Polysomnography
• Sleep (physiology)
• Sleep Wake Disorders (physiopathology)
• Somnambulism (physiopathology)