[Sleep recovery after deprivation: comparison between good and poor sleepers of the same age]

Sleep organization was studied with and without a previous sleep deprivation. Sleep recovery was allowed during day or only at night. Two groups of good and poor sleepers were compared (15 subjects aged 22-26 years in each). The main differences between groups were observed for 1) the sleep onset latency 2) the ratio total sleep time/time in bed and on the total sleep time. The influence upon sleep of the various situations was less marked in poor sleepers than in good sleepers. This result suggests some deficiency in the mechanisms allowing sleep recovery after deprivation.