Cited by 28Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchStress Responses and CortisolSleep and related disorders

Influences of partial REM sleep deprivation and awakenings on nocturnal cortisol release

Born, J., Schenk, U., Späth-Schwalbe, E., Fehm, H.L.·1988·Biological Psychiatry

Abstract

Decreasing endogenous plasma cortisol levels during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep have been recently reported, suggesting a diminished or absent secretory activity of the adrenals during this period. On the other hand, episodes of light sleep (Stage 1) and intermittent wakefulness have been found to be associated with increasing plasma cortisol levels. The present experiments in 10 adult men were designed to examine whether or not REM sleep inhibits adrenocortical activity and if short periods of wakefulness increase nocturnal cortisol release. Somnopolygraphic recordings were obtained from each subject under three experimental sleep conditions: a baseline night, an REM deprivation night in which the subject's sleep was disturbed contingent upon the occurrence of REM, and a control night in which sleep was disturbed both during REM deprivation and non-REM (NREM) epochs, i.e., mostly during Stage 2 sleep. This last condition was introduced to distinguish the effects of REM deprivation from those of arousals that may per se act as stressful stimuli for cortisol release. Contrary to expectation, we found that both REM sleep deprivation and arousals in NREM epochs reduced rather than enhanced mean plasma cortisol levels as compared with baseline conditions. These findings do not support the hypothesis of an inhibitory effect of REM sleep on cortisol secretion, though present data do not refute this hypothesis. The awakenings, or the light sleep subsequent to sleep disturbance, appear to have no stimulatory effect on adrenocortical secretion. Awakenings during sleep at night may even reflect the activity of mechanisms inhibiting sleep-related increases in plasma cortisol concentration.

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Crossref · 10.1016/0006-3223(88)90256-9

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Authors
Born, J., Schenk, U., Späth-Schwalbe, E., & Fehm, H. L.
Affiliations
Universität Ulm (DE)
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1988-11
Volume
24
Issue
7
Pages
801-811
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2066411740
Cited by
28
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
Keywords
REM sleep deprivation, adrenocortical function, sleep arousal, light sleep, sleep disorders, stress response, plasma cortisol
MeSH terms
Adult, Arousal, Circadian Rhythm, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Stages, Sleep, REM, Wakefulness

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