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Characterizing Sleep Spindles in Sheep
Will T Schneider1, Szilvia Vas1, Alister U Nicol1
1Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom.
Eneuro
|March 4, 2020
Summary
Sheep exhibit sleep spindles within the typical human range during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Intriguingly, similar spindle-like events also occur during wakefulness, potentially serving distinct cognitive functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Science
- Mammalian Physiology
Background:
- Sleep spindles are transient brain patterns during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.
- They are crucial for learning consolidation and may indicate aging or neurodegenerative disease progression.
- Characterizing sleep spindles in non-human mammals provides comparative insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize sleep spindles in sheep (Ovis aries).
- To investigate the presence and nature of sleep spindles during both nocturnal and diurnal NREM sleep.
- To explore potential spindle-like events during wakefulness in sheep.
Main Methods:
- Wireless electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from six sheep over multiple days and nights.
- Automated algorithm for detection and characterization of sleep spindles.
- Analysis of spindle frequency, duration, density, and topography.
Main Results:
- Sheep sleep spindles occurred within the human range (10-16 Hz) but lacked distinct fast/slow bands.
- Spindle characteristics varied between individuals but were consistent within individuals across nights.
- Spindles during daytime NREM sleep were similar to those at night.
- Numerous localized, spindle-like events were detected during wakefulness, differing from sleep spindles.
Conclusions:
- Sheep possess sleep spindles similar to humans, primarily during NREM sleep.
- The study identified novel "wake spindles" during daytime wakefulness, distinct from sleep spindles.
- Wake spindles may originate from different mechanisms and potentially play a role in daytime cognitive processes.
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