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Napping reverses increased pain sensitivity due to sleep restriction
Brice Faraut1, Damien Léger1, Terkia Medkour2
1Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, APHP, Hôtel Dieu de Paris, Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance, Equipe d'accueil 7330 VIFASOM, Paris, France.
Plos One
|February 28, 2015
Summary
Sleep restriction increases pain sensitivity in different body areas. Napping helps restore normal pain thresholds, indicating its restorative effect on pain mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Sleep restriction is known to affect various physiological functions.
- Pain perception can be altered by changes in sleep patterns.
- The restorative effects of napping on pain sensitivity are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of sleep restriction on pain sensitivity.
- To examine the restorative effect of napping on pain thresholds.
Main Methods:
- A randomized crossover study involving 11 healthy male volunteers.
- Participants underwent sleep restriction and sleep restriction with napping sessions.
- Quantitative sensory testing (heat, cold, pressure) was used to assess pain thresholds.
Main Results:
- Sleep restriction led to decreased heat pain threshold in the lower back and increased pressure pain threshold in the supraspinatus area.
- No significant changes were observed in thermal detection thresholds or for the thigh area.
- Napping successfully restored pain thresholds in the lower back and supraspinatus areas.
Conclusions:
- Sleep restriction induces differential hypersensitivity to pain stimuli across body regions.
- Napping demonstrates a restorative effect on pain thresholds, independent of vigilance.
- These findings suggest multilevel pain mechanisms influenced by sleep and napping.
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