�tude du sommeil de travailleurs � horaires alternants: adaptation et r�cup�ration dans le cas de rotation rapide de poste (3?4 jours)

An electroencephalographic study of the sleep of shift workers in a French oil refinery shows a beginning adaptation to schedule reversal, which supports a rapid shift alternation (3-4 days) which restrains both the cumulated sleep deficit and the adaptation todule reversal.

Abstract

An electroencephalographic study of the sleep of shift workers (3 x 8) was performed in a French oil refinery. The recordings of diurnal sleep showed: a severe disorganization of the first day sleep (very short duration, decrease of PS and SWS in absolute amount); a trend towards better sleep characteristics (duration, PS and SWS amount) through the day-sleep period. Recovery night sleep appeared different when following curtailed night sleep (morning shift) and when following curtailed day sleep (night shift). Nocturnal sleep following immediately the diurnal sleep shows only partly the characteristics of a real recovery. Thus there seems to be a beginning adaptation to schedule reversal. This result supports a rapid shift alternation (3-4 days) which restrains both the cumulated sleep deficit and the adaptation to schedule reversal.