Sleep During and After Gradual Sleep Reduction

Abstract

ABSTRACT To determine: 1) the minimum amounts of sleep subjects would tolerate, 2) the changes in EEG sleep measures, and 3) whether subjects would revert to baseline sleep after study termination, 4 couples gradually reduced their sleep. Three couples reduced their TST in 30‐min steps from a baseline of 8 hrs and one couple from a baseline of 6.5 hrs. Subjective estimates of sleep time, sleep quality, and mood were collected daily. Home EEG sleep recordings were obtained 3 nights a week. Two of the 8‐hr sleepers reduced their sleep to 5.5 hrs, 2 to 5.0 hrs, and 2 reached 4.5 hrs. These 6 subjects continued sleeping 1 to 2.5 hrs below baseline amounts a year after reduction terminated. The 6.5‐hr baseline couple reached 5.0 hrs and returned to 6.5 hrs TST during follow‐up. Stages W, 2, and REM decreased significantly in absolute amounts. Percentage of stages W and 2 also decreased significantly. REM percent remained constant. Stage 3 was constant while stage 4 increased in both absolute and relative amounts. REM cycle length remained constant. Stage 4 rebound on 7‐hr nights was not observed during times of greatest sleep reduction. Occurrences of stage REM within 10 min of stage 1 onset were observed in 2 subjects when their TST was below 6.5 hrs. Our results are consistent with other studies of shortened sleep, indicating that TST is the major determinant of sleep‐stage characteristics.