Neurophysiological Inhibitory Systems Active During Sleep

摘要

It was concluded that slow sleep and paradoxical phases (P.P.) are qualitatively different states of the nervous sys tem, and that sleep cannot be considered as a unique continous state. In fact, both ontogeny and philogeny show that two different states may be differentiated. Among the phasic phenomena occurring during P. P., the pontogeniculo-visual activity (monophasic spikes occurring alone or in clusters) which accompanies the occurrence of rapid eye movements (REM) was investigated: both phenomena are triggered from the pons and the organization REM in different chronic preparations is described. The importance of a colliculo-mesencephalic region for the occurrence of clusters of REM is emphasized, and the dual role of the cortex (visual facilitatory, frontal inhibitory) has been shown. All these results suggest that some complex mechanism integrates rapid eye movements during sleep. The characteristic EMG activity of the extraocular eye muscles during P.P. is also emphasized. (Author)