EEG-studies on the phases of sleep and wakefulness after bilateral labyrinth destruction

The dynamics of the state of wakefulness, slow and paradoxical sleep after labyrinth destruction was studied in chronic cats. The states were assessed according to the behaviour, EEG, myogram and eye movements. The labyrinth destruction was combined (chemical and mechanical). Bilateral labyrinth deafferentation results in a decrease in the duration of wakefulness from 30 to 17 per cent, p less than 0.001. At the same time paradoxical sleep increased from 4 to 8 per cent, p less than 0.001. This increase is due to both the greater average number of paradoxical sleep episodes and a higher average duration of the individual episode. The latency of the first appearance of a paradoxical sleep episode is considerably shortened after labyrinth destruction.