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Circadian rhythms ofMacaca mulatta: Sleep, EEG, body and eye movement, and temperature

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Abstract

EEG, EOG, EMG, gross activity, and temperature were continuously recorded over 24 hours from 38 maleMacaca mulatta monkeys. EEG, EOG, and EMG were translated into standard Sleep Stages. The EEG also was automatically filtered, rectified, integrated, digitized, and plotted. Results are presented first as 24-hour plots for temperature, Sleep Stages Awake, 1–2, 3–4, and REM, for EMG, gross motion, EOG, and for the occurrence of EEG bands delta, theta, alpha, sigma, and beta.

Twenty-four-hour cosine curves were fitted to the data by least squares, demonstrating and quantifying with confidence intervals a circadian rhythm in each function. During the 12-hour dark span the acrophases, or peaks of the cosines fitted to the data, appeared in the following clockwise order: Stage 3–4, delta, Stage 1–2, Stage REM, total EEG, and theta. The clockwise order of acrophases appearing in the light span was: alpha, gross motion, sigma, beta, EMG, EOG, temperature, and Stage Awake. Circadian amplitudes are given for each rhythm.

Three of these measures of brain function had circadian rises or falls which appeared to be influenced by the daily times of light-on or -off. Lighting acted as circadian phase-synchronizing stimulus for temperature and the EEG bands beta and sigma.

The data demonstrate circadian rhythms for certain parameters associated with sleep—delta, theta, Stage REM, and Stage 3–4 and important differences in phase. This finding constitutes another line of evidence that sleep is not unitary, consisting rather of related but separately controlled rhythmic functions.

Considerable phylogenetic constancy appears when these data on circadian phasing are compared with similar data from other primates, including man.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Medical Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, 80220, Denver, Colorado, USA

    Thomas J. Crowley

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, P.O.B. 109, 92037, La Jolla, California, USA

    Daniel F. Kripke

  3. Chronobiology Laboratory, University of Minnesota Medical School, 55414, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Franz Halberg

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama Medical School, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

    G. V. Pegram

  5. Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    J. J. Schildkraut

Authors
  1. Thomas J. Crowley
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  2. Daniel F. Kripke
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  3. Franz Halberg
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  4. G. V. Pegram
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  5. J. J. Schildkraut
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Additional information

The experimental work was part of Aeromedical Research Laboratory Project 6892, Holloman Air Force Base, U.S.A.F. Biochemical assays were supported by the U.S.P.H.S. (MH 15413). Data analysis performed at the University of Minnesota was supported by NASA (NAS 2-2738 and NGR-24-005-006), the U.S. Air Force (F29608-69-C-0011), and by the USPHS (CA 5-K6-GM 13981). Further reproduction of this article is authorized as needed to meet the requirements of the U.S. government. The animals used in this study were handled in accordance with the “Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care” published by the National Academy of Science-National Research Council. Drs.Crowley andKripke were on active duty, and Dr.Pegram was a civilian employee with the USAF during part of this project.

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Crowley, T.J., Kripke, D.F., Halberg, F. et al. Circadian rhythms ofMacaca mulatta: Sleep, EEG, body and eye movement, and temperature. Primates 13, 149–167 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01840877

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01840877

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