Behavioral responsivity during recovery sleep

Previous research has shown that REM-deprived subjects are more likely than non-REM-deprived subjects to perform an operant response during subsequent REM sleep when punishment (full awakening) for failure to respond was used. The present study used the same punishment procedure while attempting to extend these findings to other sleep stages. Response latencies were compared for six subjects under each of two conditions: Normal sleep occurring from 2300 to 0700 and recovery sleep occurring from 0700 to 1300 after 24 hr of continuous wakefulness. Alpha activity, EMG increases, stage shifts, and body movements were assessed to determine the amount of arousal associated with behavioral responding under both conditions. In general, response latencies lengthened during recovery sleep indicating a diminished ability to respond while no differences in arousal were evident.