ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON SLEEP IN THE DOG AND RABBIT (RICERCHE ELETTROFISIOLOGICHE SUL SONNO DEL CANE E DEL CONIGLO),
Abstract
The sleep of the normal dog and rabbit has been studied. The electrical neocortical rhythms, the electrical activity of the posterior cervical muscles, the blood pressure level and the behavior of the animals during sleep have been analyzed and related to the threshold of arousal by electrical subcutaneous stimulation. Two phases of sleep of different depth, quite similar to those previously observed in the cat, have been found in the dog: a light sleep phase characterized by synchronized EEG rhythms, moderate EMG activity and normal blood pressure level; a deep sleep phase, characterized by desynchronized EEG, flattening of the EMG, very low blood pressure level and twitching of the facial muscles. This subdivision of sleep in two phases is not possible in the rabbit. The most reliable index of the occurrence and depth of sleep in this animal has been identified with the occurrence of EEG synchronization. The sleep of the rabbit does not appear to reach the depth of that of the dog or cat. The partial disagreement between the present findings and those obtained in other laboratories is pointed out and discussed. Two possible explanatory hypotheses are advanced. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 06, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0612870
Entities
People
- F. Bonamini
- G. F. Rossi
- P. Pastorino
- V. De Carolis
Organizations
- University of Genoa