Abstract
Objective: During wakefulness, nociceptive thermal stimulation can trigger a rapid and transient rise in heart rate (HR). During sleep, HR variations are different across sleep stages; HR is more variable in stage 2 and in REM than in stages 3 and 4. The aim of this study was to assess the HR response to experimental thermal stimulation during different sleep stages. Methods: Eight young subjects free of sleep and pain problems, underwent a night of polysomnographic recording during which experimental thermal stimulations were applied. During all sleep stages (St), a series of cold, warm/control and heat pain stimulations were applied over the shoulder skin by means of a water-driven system. Variation of HR interval was measured for 6 s before and for 6 s during the thermal stimulation. Results: In comparison to control warm stimulation, experimental nociceptive thermal stimulation induced a significant rise in HR during sleep; HR increased by 7% in St 2, 5.4% in St 3&4, and by 4.3% in REM sleep. Conclusion: The brief increase in cardiac activity with experimental nociceptive stimulation suggests that during sleep, the autonomic-cardiac nervous system remains reactive to external sensory inputs and is part of the physiological response to preserve body safety and sleep integrity in the face of potentially harmful stimulation.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 532-535 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Clinical Neurophysiology |
Volume | 112 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Autonomic response
- Heart rate
- Nociception
- Pain
- Quantitative sensory testing
- Sleep
- Thermal pain
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Neurology
- Sensory Systems
- Physiology (medical)