Analysis of the Sleep Stages in Sleep‐Wakefulness Regimens of Varied Length

Two to 4 different young adult males were studied while on five different regimens of sleep‐wakefulness. The regimens studied were: 3 hrs sleep, 6 hrs wakefulness; 4 hrs sleep, 8 hrs wakefulness; 6 hrs sleep, 12 hrs wakefulness; 10 hrs sleep, 20 hrs wakefulness; and, 12 hrs sleep, 24 hrs wakefulness. The EEG‐EOG was recorded during the sleep period. The largest change in sleep pattern occurred in the short regimens. In these regimens Stage 2 was reduced and Stages 3/4 increased. The amount of REM sleep was stable across all regimens. The temporal distribution of Stages REM and 4 was maintained within the modified regimens. Increases in amount of prior wakefulness acted predictably to increase the amount of Stage 4. REM sleep was responsive to sleep onset time.