THE BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF REM SLEEP DEPRIVATION IN RATS.

Four experiments were performed to test the behavioral effects of REM deprivation on rats. Two studies of avoidance learning showed that shuttle avoidance and runway avoidance were unaffected by REM deprivation. REM deprivation produced an enhancement of activity, and the addition of periodic shock demonstrated a failure of adaptation for REM-deprived subjects. These data were interpreted as indicating that REM deprivation produces motivational effects on rat behavior and that electric shock-induced pain and REM deprivation interact to change activity patterns. It was concluded that the findings of the present experiment can be explained most parsimoniously in terms of increased sensitivity of REM-deprived subjects to environmental stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychophysiology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)