Cited by 251Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchCircadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and related disorders

Variation of electroencephalographic activity during non‐rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement sleep with phase of circadian melatonin rhythm in humans

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Dijk, Derk‐Jan, Shanahan, Theresa L., Duffy, Jeanne F., Ronda, Joseph M., Czeisler, Charles A.·1997·The Journal of Physiology

Abstract

The circadian pacemaker regulates the timing, structure and consolidation of human sleep. The extent to which this pacemaker affects electroencephalographic (EEG) activity during sleep remains unclear. To investigate this, a total of 1.22 million power spectra were computed from EEGs recorded in seven men (total, 146 sleep episodes; 9 h 20 min each) who participated in a one‐month‐long protocol in which the sleep–wake cycle was desynchronized from the rhythm of plasma melatonin, which is driven by the circadian pacemaker. In rapid eye movement (REM) sleep a small circadian variation in EEG activity was observed. The nadir of the circadian rhythm of α‐activity (8.25–10.5 Hz) coincided with the end of the interval during which plasma melatonin values were high, i.e. close to the crest of the REM sleep rhythm. In non‐REM sleep, variation in EEG activity between 0.25 and 11.5Hz was primarily dependent on prior sleep time and only slightly affected by circadian phase, such that the lowest values coincided with the phase of melatonin secretion. In the frequency range of sleep spindles, high‐amplitude circadian rhythms with opposite phase positions relative to the melatonin rhythm were observed. Low‐frequency sleep spindle activity (12.25–13.0 Hz) reached its crest and high‐frequency sleep spindle activity (14.25–15.5Hz) reached its nadir when sleep coincided with the phase of melatonin secretion. These data indicate that the circadian pacemaker induces changes in EEG activity during REM and non‐REM sleep. The changes in non‐REM sleep EEG spectra are dissimilar from the spectral changes induced by sleep deprivation and exhibit a close temporal association with the melatonin rhythm and the endogenous circadian phase of sleep consolidation.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1469-7793.1997.851ba.x

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Authors
Dijk, D., Shanahan, T. L., Duffy, J. F., Ronda, J. M., & Czeisler, C. A.
Affiliations
Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1997-12
Volume
505
Issue
3
Pages
851-858
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
OpenAlex
W2132968822
Cited by
250
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Research (University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
  • Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG006072, 1-P01-AG-09975, P01AG009975, R01-AG06072-09)
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01 RR 02635, M01RR002635)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
Keywords
circadian rhythm, melatonin, REM sleep, NREM sleep, EEG power spectra, sleep spindles, alpha activity, circadian pacemaker, sleep-wake cycle, sleep consolidation, sleep deprivation
MeSH terms
Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Electroencephalography, Humans, Male, Melatonin, Sleep Stages, Sleep, REM

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