[Electrophysiologic correlates of interaction between desynchronized and synchronized brain structures during sleep...

The relations of the basal preoptic area to mesencephalic RF, center median of the thalamus, hippocampus and posterior hypothalamus were studied in cats with the aid of positive wave (P-wave) evoked by preoptic stimulation during wakefulness and sleep. In light slow wave sleep, the amplitude and duration of P-wave increased for all the structures except hippocampus. Correlation between the P-wave amplitude in hippocampus and the duration of the paradoxical sleep was revealed. In paradoxical sleep, the P-wave of the mesencephalic RF and the center median was reduced as compared to wakefulness. Various functional properties of the P-wave evoked by preoptic stimulation, are discussed.