HOMEOSTATIC AND CIRCADIAN ASPECTS OF SLEEP REGULATION IN YOUNG POOR SLEEPERS

Poor sleepers are a valid model for studying sleep/wake regulation in insomnia. The respective influence of the homeostatic and circadian co mponents of this regulation was studied using various protocols (habit ual sleep, recovery after sleep deprivation, bedrest, sleep latency in MSLT and RTSW procedures, and circadian rhythms of body temperature a nd alertness during a 24-hour constant routine). Poor sleepers were co mpared to age matched good sleepers studied using similar procedures. The main results are reviewed. Our findings do not support a deficienc y in the homeostatic component of sleep/wake regulation. An abnormalit y in the relationship between the sleep/wake cycle and temperature rhy thm cannot be excluded, although most of our results are consistent wi th the hyperarousal hypothesis.