Hyperarousal captured in increased number of arousal events during pre-REM periods in individuals with frequent nightmares.

Hyperarousal captured in increased number of arousal events during pre-REM periods in individuals with frequent nightmares. J Sleep Res. 2019 Dec 20;:e12965 Authors: Blaskovich B, Reicher V, Gombos F, Spoormaker VI, Simor P Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate hyperarousal in individuals with frequent nightmares (NM participants) by calculating arousal events during nocturnal sleep. We hypothesized an increased number of arousals in NM participants compared with controls, especially during those periods where the probability of spontaneous arousal occurrence is already high, such as non-rapid eye movement to rapid eye movement transitions (pre-rapid eye movement periods). Twenty-two NM participants and 23 control participants spent two consecutive nights in our sleep laboratory, monitored by polysomnography. Arousal number and arousal length were calculated only for the second night, for 10 min before rapid eye movement (pre-rapid eye movement) and 10 min after rapid eye movement (post-rapid eye movement) periods, as well as non-rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement phases separately. Repeated-measures ANOVA model testing revealed significant Group (NM participants, controls) × Phase (pre-rapid eye movement, post-rapid eye movement) interaction in case of the number of arousals. Furthermore, post hoc analysis showed a significantly increased number of arousals during pre-rapid eye movement periods in NM partic...
Source: Journal of Sleep Research - Category: Sleep Medicine Authors: Tags: J Sleep Res Source Type: research