Fluctuations between sleep and wakefulness: Wake-like features indicated by increased EEG alpha power during different sleep stages in nightmare disorder
Open accessAbstract
Although a growing body of research indicates that frequent nightmares are related to impaired sleep regulation, the pathophysiology of nightmare disorder is far from being fully understood. We examined the relative spectral power values for NREM and REM sleep separately in 19 individuals with nightmare disorder and 21 healthy controls, based on polysomnographic recordings of the second nights' laboratory sleep. Nightmare subjects compared to controls exhibited increased relative high alpha (10-14.5Hz) and fronto-central increases in high delta (3-4Hz) power during REM sleep, and a trend of increased fronto-central low alpha (7.75-9Hz) power in NREM sleep. These differences were independent of the confounding effects of waking emotional distress. High REM alpha and low NREM alpha powers were strongly related in nightmare but not in control subjects. The topographical distribution and spectral components of REM alpha activity suggest that nightmare disordered subjects are characterized by wake-like electroencephalographic features during REM sleep.
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Polysomnographic studies in patients with nightmares or nightmare disorders are characterized by alteration of sleep microstructure, including increased EEG alpha power, increased arousal-related phenomena in NREM-REM transitions, and imbalance in sleep-promoting and arousing mechanisms.
“alteration of sleep microstructure characteristics (increase in EEG alpha power, increased arousal-related phenomena in NREM–REM transitions, imbalance in sleep-promoting and arousing mechanisms) [11–13].”
From Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis (2021) · cites this paper as [12]
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Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis
Stefani, A., & Högl, B. (2021) · Neurotherapeutics · doi:10.1007/s13311-020-00966-8 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Simor, P., Horváth, K., Ujma, P. P., Gombos, F., & Bódizs, R.
- Affiliations
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics (HU)
- Semmelweis University (HU)
- Pázmány Péter Catholic University (HU)
- Corresponding author
- Simor, Péter
- Venue
- Biological Psychology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-12
- Volume
- 94
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 592-600
- ISSN
- 0301-0511 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2013373618
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 1.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Biological Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- European Union
- European Social Fund
- 2010 Research Grant of the BIAL Foundation
- 2009 Research Grant Award of the Joint IASD/DreamScience Foundation
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Restless Legs Syndrome Research
- Keywords
- nightmare disorder, REM sleep, NREM sleep, EEG alpha power, EEG delta power, sleep regulation, spectral power
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alpha Rhythm, Dreams, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Sleep, Sleep Stages, Wakefulness, Polysomnography
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