Benzodiazepines and sleep deprivation have opposite effects

Benzodiazepines and sleep deprivation change the sleep EEG spectrum in opposite ways:
  • After sleep deprivation, low-frequency activity is enhanced and spindle frequency activity attenuated.
  • After benzodiazepine receptor agonists, low-frequency activity is attenuated and spindle frequency activity enhanced.

Note the similar pattern after the three benzodiazepine hypnotics.

 

Why compare hypnotics with sleep deprivation ?

Prolonged wakefulness increases sleep propensity. Sleep deprivation may therefore be a "natural" hypnotic.

Relative EEG power density after sleep deprivation and three benzodiazepine receptor agnonists.

(Borbély et al., 1981; 1983; 1985)

 

 

 

©1998 BITS OF SLEEP (Demo) : Pharmacological manipulations of sleep: Benzodiazepine hypnotics and analogs in the EEG.