Non-REM sleep as a source of learning deficits induced by REM sleep deprivation.

Procedures that deprive animal subjects of rapid eye movement sleep have often been associated with learning impairments. Previously, the conclusion has been drawn that these learning impairments are due to the absence of some positive function of rapid eye movement sleep. The present research indicates more precisely that typical impairments associated with the deprivation procedures may be due to isolated periods of non-REM sleep, rather than due to the simple absence of rapid eye movement sleep. Mice were tested for acquistion of a complex maze task, and subjected to post-trial rapid eye movement sleep deprivation by the pedestal method. Only animals demonstrating (non-REM) sleep behaviors during deprivation gave evidence of learning deficits.