Age effects on spectral electroencephalogram activity prior to dream recall.

摘要: Ageing is associated with marked changes in sleep timing, structure and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Older people exhibit less slow-wave spindle activity during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, together attenuated levels of rapid (REM) as compared to young individuals. However, the extent which these age-related impact on dream processing remains largely unknown. Here we investigated NREM REM EEG prior recall no 17 (20-31years) 15 older volunteers (57-74years) a 40h multiple nap protocol. Dream was assessed immediately after each nap. During recall, participants displayed higher frontal delta (1-3Hz) centro-parietal sigma (12-15Hz) than volunteers. Conversely, before had frontal-central frontal, central parietal derivations participants. changes, such that alpha (10-12Hz) beta (16-19Hz) activity, irrespective recall. Our data indicate differences seem be directly coupled specific frequency topography patterns, particularly sleep. Thus, spectral correlates dreaming can help understand cortical pathways dreaming. © 2011 European Sleep Research Society.