THE PITTSBURGH STUDY OF NORMAL SLEEP IN YOUNG-ADULTS - FOCUS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WAKING AND SLEEPING EEG SPECTRAL PATTERNS

The effects of age and gender on spectral characteristics of the wakin g EEG were investigated in a large sample of young adult men and women . In addition, relationships between spectral characteristics of the w aking and sleeping EEG within an individual were explored. The sample included 28 females and 33 males in two age groups: 20-29 years (n = 3 2), and 30-40 years (n = 29). Spectral analysis was used to quantify E EG frequency characteristics for waking EEG just prior to sleep onset, as well as for the entire sleep recording. Significant effects of age were seen in the waking EEG but only in the delta frequency range (0. 5-4.5 Hz) with lower delta activity in the older group (F = 11.6, P = 0.001). No significant gender effects were found in the waking EEG. In dependent of age and gender, spectral profiles in the delta, theta, al pha and beta frequency bands of a subject's waking EEG were found to b e highly correlated with their sleep EEG. In addition, subjects with h igh voltage alpha profiles during waking were found to sleep significa ntly longer and deeper than those with low voltage records. Significan t correlations between waking and sleep EEG suggest that the spectral signature of an individual's EEG may be found across sleep/wake states . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.