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Night-time plasma cortisol secretion is associated with specific sleep stages
Biological Psychiatry
|December 1, 1986
Summary
Nocturnal cortisol secretion patterns correlate with sleep stages. Decreasing cortisol aligns with REM sleep, while increasing levels precede wakefulness and light sleep, suggesting cortisol
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cortisol, a key stress hormone, exhibits diurnal variations.
- Understanding the relationship between cortisol and sleep is crucial for human health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal relationship between nocturnal plasma cortisol concentrations and sleep patterns.
- To explore cortisol's potential role in sleep regulation and transitions.
Main Methods:
- Polysomnography was used to record sleep stages in 16 healthy male subjects.
- Plasma cortisol levels were measured to assess nocturnal secretory activity.
Main Results:
- Nocturnal cortisol secretion synchronized with sleep cycles.
- Decreasing cortisol levels correlated with Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.
- Increasing cortisol levels were associated with wakefulness and Stage 1 sleep, often preceding these states.
Conclusions:
- Cortisol secretion appears synchronized with sleep-wake cycles.
- Adrenal activity, indicated by cortisol levels, may influence sleep onset and maintenance.
- The cessation of Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) might trigger the initial rise in nocturnal cortisol.