Rapid eye movement modulation during night sleep in autistic subjects

Four autistic male subjects (mean age 13.3 years) and 5 normal age-matched control males were studied by night sleep polygraphy. Results showed significantly higher rapid eye movement (REM) density and R index (p = 0.032) and a less evident tendency of REMs to cluster in bursts in autistic subjects. These findings suggest the existence in autistic subjects of an increased redundancy of REMs probably depending on a deficit in inhibitory descending influences from the frontal areas or on a dysregulation of the complex neurochemical mechanism subserving REM sleep.