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Updated: May 14, 2026

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Information processing varies between insomnia types: measures of N1 and P2 during the night
Célyne H Bastien1, Isabelle Turcotte, Geneviève St-Jean
1School of Psychology Laval University, Quebec, Canada. celyne.bastien@psy.ulaval.ca
Abstract:
This study compared cortical arousal mechanisms during the night using event-related potentials (N1 and P2), and compared sleep misperception in 30 adults with psychophysiological insomnia (Psy-I), 28 adults with paradoxical insomnia (Para-I), and 30 good sleepers (GS). Participants (age range = 25-55 years) spent 4 consecutive nights in the laboratory, and Night-4 data were used for analysis. N1 amplitude was generally larger in both insomnia groups compared to GS, and P2 amplitude was larger in Para-I than in the 2 other groups, especially in REM sleep. Results suggest that, although hyperarousal appears to persist during sleep in adults with insomnia, inhibition deficits are more likely to be present in Para-I compared to Psy-I.
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