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Depolarization of Central Terminals of Group la Muscle Afferent Fibres during Desynchronized Sleep

Abstract

THE stage of deep sleep is characterized by a desynchronized electroencephalogram (EEG), periodic bursts of rapid eye movements and a great reduction of the electro-myographic (EMG) activity of dorsal cervical muscles. There is also a tonic depression of spontaneous EMG activity in both flexor and extensor muscles, and a further phasic reduction of residual muscular activity occurs synchronously with the periodic bursts of rapid eye movements1. Both the heteronymous2,3 and the homonymous4 monosynaptic reflexes are tonically depressed throughout the desynchronized phase of sleep. A further phasic depression frequently occurs at the time of the bursts of rapid eye movements4. This suggests that an abrupt but transient increase of the barrage of descending inhibitory impulses occurs phasically in relation to the rapid eye movements of deep sleep4. Muscular twitches have also been found to predominate during the bursts of rapid eye movements1. These occur, paradoxically, just when the spontaneous muscle activity1 and the spinal reflexes4 are most profoundly depressed.

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References

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MORRISON, A., POMPEIANO, O. Depolarization of Central Terminals of Group la Muscle Afferent Fibres during Desynchronized Sleep. Nature 210, 201–202 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/210201a0

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