Recovery within day-time sleep after slow wave sleep suppression

Six subjects had their SWS activity suppressed by acoustic stimulation during a day-time (11.00 h) recovery sleep after a 4 h night sleep (03.00-07.00 h). Sleep was disturbed for a period corresponding to 90% of the duration of a preceding undisturbed baseline sleep (also at 11.00 h and preceded by a 4 h night sleep) and thereafter allowed to continue undisturbed until spontaneous awakening. The results showed that SWS and EEG power density were significantly reduced during suppression and that full recovery occurred before spontaneous awakening. The disturbed sleep was significantly longer than the baseline sleep. The increase in duration consisted mainly of SWS, stage 2 and REM. The results suggest that the suppression of SWS activity caused a need for an extension of sleep in order to allow recovery.