The effect of ethyl alcohol on man's electroencephalographic sleep cycle

Electroencephalography and Clinical NeurophysiologyPublished 1 February 1966

Richard B. Yules, Daniel X. Freedman, Kenneth A Chandler

Citations107

TL;DR

It is indicated that 1 g of ethyl alcohol per kg of body weight administered before sleep exerts a systematic effect on EEG sleep patterns and latency or time to the first REM is constant in control and post-alcohol nights but varies unsystematically during nights of alcohol administration.

Abstract

This study indicates that 1 g of ethyl alcohol per kg of body weight administered before sleep exerts a systematic effect on EEG sleep patterns. In three human subjects over 13 consecutive nights (4 control, 5 alcohol, and 4 recovery nights), the most consistent pattern of change from night to night was seen in stage I REM. On the first night of alcohol the mean REM time dropped from the mean control value and over the next four consecutive nights on ethyl alcohol increased steadily to a peak value on the fifth night of alcohol. In four recovery nights REM time dropped back to control levels. This change in REM occurs in the first half of the night, when CSF alcohol levels are at their maximum concentration, and during the second half of the night. Latency or time to the first REM is constant in control and post-alcohol nights but varies unsystematically during nights of alcohol administration. Stages III and IV remain constant while stage II "absorbs" the shifts demonstrated in stage I.

Keywords

PsychologyNeuroscience

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