Laboratory note: effect on sleep latency of presleep AEP procedures

In a 12-night study of the effects of l-tryptophan in poor sleepers, waking auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were obtained prior to lights-out on the 3rd placebo-baseline night and the 5th treatment night. Sleep latencies were significantly shorter on both AEP nights. The components of the AEP procedure may facilitate sleep onset by promoting relaxation and lowering psychophysiological arousal level in poor sleepers.