POLYPHASIC SLEEP / WAKE PATTERNS AND

THEIR SIGNIFICANCE TO VIGILANCE (

*>

Jiirgen Z u l l e y and Josef B a i l e r

Max Planck I n s t i t u t e f o r P s y c h i a t r y , Munich, F.R.G.

SUMMARY
Under conditions i n which no r e s t r a i n t s on s l e e p and minimized
a l t e r n a t i v e s t o s l e e p are given, the sleep/wake p a t t e r n e x h i b i t s a
polyphasic d i s t r i b u t i o n • This r e s u l t was found i n a study i n which
12 subjects were p o l y g r a p h i c a l l y recorded i n two sessions, each
lasting 32 hours. During one session, t h e subjects had constant
bedrest f o r t h e e n t i r e p e r i o d , while the other session s t a r t e d w i t h
8 hours o f s l e e p d e p r i v a t i o n , followed by constant bedrest. During
the day, subjects s l e p t a t average i n t e r v a l s o f 4 hours. After
s l e e p d e p r i v a t i o n , t h e recovery sleep covered t h e time i n t e r v a l o f
the f i r s t two nap episodes o f t h e c o n d i t i o n without sleep depriva-
tion. Compared t o b a s e l i n e a l e r t n e s s , mood and performance a r e
decreased during these two c o n d i t i o n s . This r e s u l t suggests t h e
presence o f an underlying polyphasic placement o f sleep and wake-
fulness. Under t h e given c o n d i t i o n , the r e a l i z a t i o n o f such a
sleep/wake p a t t e r n leads t o oversleeping, which r e s u l t s i n a de-
t e r i o r a t i o n i n the psychological variables.

Introduction
In numerous s t u d i e s (e.g. Wever, 1979) i t has been concluded t h a t t h e
human sleep/wake system i s governed by a c i r c a d i a n c l o c k mechanism. Such an
underlying r e g u l a t i o n has a l s o been assumed i n s t u d i e s which focused on t h e
influence o f t h e sleep/wake p a t t e r n on performance (Taub & Berger, 1973).
Other s t u d i e s i n t h i s context have analyzed the p s y c h o l o g i c a l consequences
o f r e s t r i c t e d s l e e p (Mullaney e t a l . , 1983), t h e recuperative f u n c t i o n o f a
nap a f t e r s l e e p d e p r i v a t i o n (Naitoh, 1981) and the i n f l u e n c e o f a d d i t i o n a l
s l e e p given as scheduled naps (Dinges e t a l . , 1981; Godbout & M o n t p l a i s i r ,
1986).

(*) Dedicated t o Prof .Dr. D. v. Zerssen on t h e occasion o f h i s 60th b i r t h d a y

 The i n i t i a l experiments o n l y considered c i r c a d i a n aspects o f sleep and
wakefulness* Therefore, i n t e r f e r i n g i n f l u e n c e s o f the c i r c a d i a n p a t t e r n were
excluded. Additional s l e e p episodes (naps) are such i n f l u e n c e s . By g i v i n g
the experimental i n s t r u c t i o n "Please a v o i d napping", such sleep episodes
were suppressed (Wever, 1979; p. 52). I f s u b j e c t s s l e p t i n s p i t e o f the
instructions, these s l e e p episodes were not considered as s l e e p i n subse-
quent data a n a l y s i s .
Recently i t has been shown t h a t the assumption o f a monophasic c i r c a d i a n
sleep/wake modulation has t o be questioned (Campbell & Z u l l e y , 1985). S i n g l y
by removing the i n s t r u c t i o n "Please a v o i d napping", the frequency o f napping
increases remarkably (Webb & Agnew, 1974). Nevertheless, experimental i n -
structions are not the o n l y f a c t o r which can i n f l u e n c e the sequence of
s l e e p i n g and waking. Self-imposed behavior o f the s u b j e c t s a l s o seems t o be
effective. Subjects who get t i r e d but do not want t o go t o s l e e p can choose
an a l t e r n a t i v e behavior t o s l e e p ( i . e . d r i n k i n g a cup o f c o f f e e o r doing
exercise).
These aspects l e d t o experiments where the occurrence of spontaneous
sleep was favored. I n these experiments no i n s t r u c t i o n s were g i v e n as to
when o r when not t o s l e e p . Furthermore, the s u b j e c t s had minimized behavio-
ral a l t e r n a t i v e s t o sleep. I n such a " d i s e n t r a i n e d " environment a clear
bimodal distribution o f s l e e p and wakefulness c o u l d be shown w i t h i n the
c i r c a d i a n day (Cairpbell & Z u l l e y , 1985). T h i s supports the assumption t h a t
the human sleep/wake system i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d not o n l y by a strong p r o p e n s i t y
to o b t a i n a s l e e p episode once per c i r c a d i a n day, but a l s o by a prominent
tendency for a s h o r t e r s l e e p episode t o occur halfway between successive
"night s l e e p " episodes. T h i s phase p o s i t i o n would correspond t o the early
afternoon, a time when t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f napping occurs i n d a i l y life
(Dinges, 1983; Ogunremi, 1978; Okudeira, 1983; Webb, 1978).
T h i s f i n d i n g has been i n t e r p r e t e d by assuming t h a t a decrease i n a puta-
t i v e s l e e p t h r e s h o l d r e v e a l s a second, l e s s robust phase p o s i t i o n f o r s l e e p .
I n r e a l l i f e such a decrease i n the s l e e p t h r e s h o l d may be due t o l i f e - s t y l e
(students, g e r i a t r i c p o p u l a t i o n ) . I n research such a decrease may be caused
by experimental c o n d i t i o n s (no i n s t r u c t i o n s about when o r when not t o s l e e p ;
minimized b e h a v i o r a l a l t e r n a t i v e s t o s l e e p ) .
A reduction o f motor a c t i v i t y caused by constant bedrest would additi-
onally decrease such a p u t a t i v e s l e e p t h r e s h o l d . I n such a study it was
shown t h a t napping occurs more f r e q u e n t l y , leading t o the assumption of a
polyphasic d i s t r i b u t i o n o f sleep and wakefulness i n the c i r c a d i a n day (Camp-
b e l l , 1984). Nevertheless, the l i n k between t h e sleep/wake p a t t e r n and raood,
alertness and performance has not y e t been examined under such conditions.
Therefore, t h e question a r i s e s t o what extent a spontaneous polyphasic
expression of sleep and wakefulness would i n f l u e n c e the course o f nood,
a l e r t n e s s and performance.

Methods
Twelve healthy volunteers (7 females, 5 males; ages 17-46) p a r t i c i p a t e d
i n t h i s study* Each subject underwent two sessions i n the s l e e p l a b o r a t o r y ,
each l a s t i n g 32 hours, s t a r t i n g a t 23:00* One s e s s i o n began w i t h constant
bedrest (condition S). The other session comprised o f an 8-hour p e r i o d o f
total sleep d e p r i v a t i o n followed by constant bedrest f o r t h e remaining 24
hours ( c o n d i t i o n TSD). I n constant bedrest t h e subjects had t o c o n s t a n t l y
l i e i n bed, where they c o u l d take t h e i r snacks as they wished.
The c o n t r o l o f t h e dim i l l u m i n a t i o n i n the room was a t the d i s c r e t i o n o f
the s u b j e c t , who had no knowlege o f the time o f day. Subjects had no p o s s i -
bility t o read, write, l i s t e n t o music, or exercise. I t was p o s s i b l e t o
cxxtitunicate w i t h subjects (e.g. regarding experimental i n s t r u c t i o n s ) by an
intercom system.
The f o l l o w i n g measurements were recorded continuously: EBG, BOG, EMG,
r e c t a l temperature and w r i s t a c t i v i t y .
Subjects were asked t o estimate t h e i r mood and a l e r t n e s s hourly on sepa-
r a t e 100 itm v i s u a l analogue s c a l e s ( a l e r t n e s s : 0=drowsy, 100=alert; mood:
0=negative, 100=positive). A t t h e same time a performance t e s t (Test d2:
c o n c e n t r a t i o n speed t e s t , Brickenkanp 1975) was c a r r i e d out.
The sequence o f the two c o n d i t i o n s (S; TSD) was randomized. Before
each session, each subject underwent b a s e l i n e measurements i n which he
estimated h i s mood and a l e r t n e s s and c a r r i e d out t h e performance tests
hourly during h i s normal d a i l y l i f e .
The criterion used here t o d e f i n e a s l e e p episode was: a sequence o f
successive uninterrupted 6-minute i n t e r v a l s of polygraphically recorded
sleep i f these were not i n t e r r u p t e d by sequences o f wakefulness lasting
longer than 30 min.
A major s l e e p episode (MSE) was defined as any sleep episode i n i t i a t e d i n
the night phase (20:00 - 7:00). A nap was defined as any s l e e p episode
i n i t i a t e d between 7:00 and 20:00.
 Results
O v e r a l l sleep/wake p a t t e r n
Oondition S
I n t h i s s e s s i o n , the s u b j e c t s s l e p t an average o f 18.8 4 1.8 hours (59%).
Hie d i s t r i b u t i o n o f s l e e p over the day and the n i g h t s can be seen i n Table
1. It i s shown t h a t the r e l a t i v e amount o f s l e e p taken during the day was
about h a l f o f the amount taken d u r i n g the n i g h t s . Furthermore, compared t o
the first night, the amount o f s l e e p was s l i g h t l y reduced i n the second
night.
On average, the f i r s t major s l e e p episode (MSE) s t a r t e d a t 23:54 ± 24 min
w h i l e the second MSE was i n i t i a t e d a t 23:16 ± 88 min. Sleep onset l a t e n c y i n
the f i r s t MSE had a mean o f 28.0 £ 16 min. The d u r a t i o n o f the s l e e p epi-
sodes throughout the e n t i r e experiment showed a c l e a r c i r c a d i a n variation
with long s l e e p episodes i n i t i a t e d d u r i n g the first night, short sleep
episodes i n i t i a t e d during t h e day and again long s l e e p episodes i n i t i a t e d i n
the second n i g h t (Table 2 ) . The waking episodes (only those longer then 30
min) were longer when i n i t i a t e d d u r i n g the day than during the n i g h t (Table
2).
The frequency of napping ( s l e e p episodes i n i t i a t e d between 7:00 and
20:00) per s u b j e c t showed a c l e a r peak w i t h 3 naps (6 s u b j e c t s ) , while 3
s u b j e c t s took 2 naps, 2 s u b j e c t s took 5 naps, and one s u b j e c t took 6 naps.
With respect t o the placement o f the roost frequent 3-nap s t r u c t u r e , it was
possible t o c l e a r l y d i f f e r e n t i a t e t h e i r time of occurrence. A l l f i r s t naps
(nap 1) were taken between 7:00 and 12:00 w i t h a mean a t 9:30. A l l second
naps (nap 2) were taken between 11:30 and 16:30 w i t h a mean a t 13:45. A l l
t h i r d naps (nap 3) were taken between 16:00 and 20:00 w i t h a mean a t 18:15.
The placement of these naps i s used i n t h e f o l l o w i n g f o r the d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n
of a l l naps. The upper p a r t o f Figure 1 shows a summation histogram o f the
number of subjects asleep with a d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n i n t o d i f f e r e n t groups of
naps. The t h r e e groups of naps can be seen t o be between two MSEs. The phase
positions o f the nap groups and t h e amount of s l e e p w i t h i n these groups can
be seen i n Table 3. The placement o f the o v e r a l l groups o f naps i s nearly
identical to the placement o f naps by those s u b j e c t s showing the 3-nap
structure.
Oondition TSD
One subject was excluded from the f o l l o w i n g data analysis because he
slept continuously for 24 hours w i t h the exception of one interruption
( i n t e r v e n i n g wakefulness longer than 30 minutes). I n t h i s s e s s i o n , t h e other
subjects s l e p t an average o f 17.5 t 2.3 hours (73%). The s l e e p was d i s t r i -
buted over t h e day and t h e n i g h t w i t h more absolute amount o f s l e e p during
the day than during the n i g h t (Table 4 ) .
The onset o f t h e f i r s t sleep episode a f t e r TSD (recovery sleep) was a t
7:17 t 14 min, w h i l e t h e MSE began a t 23:27 ± 75 min i n t h e f o l l o w i n g n i g h t .
Sleep onset latency i n t h e recovery sleep was 6.0 min ± 5.4 min. The dura-
tion o f t h e s l e e p episodes showed long sleep episodes a f t e r TSD (recovery
sleep), s h o r t e r episodes during t h e r e s t o f the day and long s l e e p episodes
again i n t h e n i g h t phase (Table 5 ) .

time of day

Figure 1
Sutmation histogram o f t h e number o f subjects asleep over t h e e n t i r e e x p e r i -
mental episode i n l o c a l time. Upper p a r t : c o n d i t i o n S; lower p a r t : c o n d i t i o n
TSD. Sleep episodes a r e d i f f e r e n t i a t e d w i t h respect t o a 3-nap structure
(see text>.
Table 1* Amount o f s l e e p (mean t SD) i n each phase i n a b s o l u t e (hours) and
r e l a t i v e values (percentage o f each phase) under c o n d i t i o n S.

Phase Time Span Mean amount of sleep

hours %

1st night 23:15 - 07:00 6.6 • 0.5 85

Day 07:01 - 23:00 6.2 t 1.5 39
2nd night 23:01 - O7:00 6.0 1 0.8 75

Table 2» Duration and frequency o f s l e e p and waking episodes (mean

± SD) i n i t i a t e d i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e phase under c o n d i t i o n S.

Phase Time span Duration of

Sleep episodes Wake episodes

hours n hours n

Night 23:00 - 07:00 8.1 t 1.5 12 0

Day 07:00 - 20:00 1.5 ± 1.0 41 2.3 ± 1.6 53
Night 20:00 - 07:00 7.3 ± 1.7 17 1.1 ± 0.4 5
Table 3. Mean p o s i t i o n o f each nap phase and mean amount o f s l e e p i n each
nap phase (hours: mean t SD; %: mean) under c o n d i t i o n S.

Mean phase Hours %

position

Nap 1 10:00 1.9 ± 0.6 41

Nap 2 14:00 1.9 ± 0.7 30
Nap 3 18:00 1.3 ± 1.0 38

Table 4. Amount o f s l e e p i n each phase i n absolute (mean t SD) and r e l a t i v e

values (mean percent o f each phase) under c o n d i t i o n TSD.

Phase Time span Amount o f s l e e p

hours %

Day 07:00 - 23:00 10.6 ± 1.7 66

Night 23:00 - 07:00 6.9 t 0.8 86

Table 5. Duration and frequency o f s l e e p and waking episodes (mean ± SD)

i n i t i a t e d i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e phase under c o n d i t i o n TSD.
1

Phase Time span Duration o f

Sleep episodes n Wake episodes n

Morning 07:00 - 08:00 6.7 ± 2.0 11 0

Day 09:00 - 20:00 2.0 ± 1.4 19 1.8 ± 1.7 27
Night 20:00 - 07:00 6.0 • 3.3 13 2.6 ± 2.7 8
 With respect t o the placement o f s l e e p . Figure 1 (lower p a r t ) shows t h a t
the f i r s t s l e e p episode a f t e r TSD (recovery sleep) covers the time o f nap 1
and nap 2, w h i l e nap 3 can again be c l e a r l y distinguished, occurring at
about the same time as under c o n d i t i o n S (mean 17:45; range 14:30 - 21:00).
The r e l a t i v e amount of s l e e p i n t h i s time span i s s i m i l a r t o the amount in
the r e s p e c t i v e time span under c o n d i t i o n S ( i . e . 40%). Under both condi-
t i o n s , the MSE i n the second n i g h t does not d i f f e r w i t h respect t o placement
and d u r a t i o n (Table 5 ) .
A l e r t n e s s and mood
For these scales nonparametric s t a t i s t i c s were necessary because the
distribution showed s i g n i f i c a n t d e v i a t i o n s from the normal distribution.
Under the b a s e l i n e c o n d i t i o n the s u b j e c t s hourly estimated t h e i r subjective
alertness with a median of 67 and mood w i t h a median o f 74 on a visual
analogue s c a l e . Comparing the c o n d i t i o n s , the values decreased under c o n d i -
t i o n S f o r both v a r i a b l e s w i t h a median of 55 f o r a l e r t n e s s and 62 f o r mood.
On average, the subjects f e l t more drowsy and l e s s comfortable under the
bedrest c o n d i t i o n .
With regard t o the d i u r n a l v a r i a t i o n a f t e r the r e s p e c t i v e s l e e p episodes
under c o n d i t i o n S, a l e r t n e s s shows a steady increase a f t e r each succeeding
nap. Mood, a f t e r an i n i t i a l i n c r e a s e , decreases a f t e r the f i r s t nap.
After sleep deprivation, a l e r t n e s s and mood show the same mean values
d u r i n g bedrest as under c o n d i t i o n S w i t h a median of 54 f o r a l e r t n e s s and 63
f o r mood.
The d i u r n a l v a r i a t i o n a f t e r TSD ( f o l l o w i n g the recovery sleep) i s equiva-
lent to that of c o n d i t i o n S, w i t h a steady increase i n a l e r t n e s s and a
decrease i n mood a f t e r the i n i t i a l increase. I t can be summarized t h a t TSD
initially caused a decrease i n a l e r t n e s s and mood, which was then compen-
sated a f t e r the recovery s l e e p episode.
Performance
Under both experimental c o n d i t i o n s s u b j e c t s showed a decrease i n their
performance test compared t o the b a s e l i n e c o n d i t i o n . As can be seen in
Figure 2, the highest values were observed under the b a s e l i n e condition,
shewing a steady increase throughout the day. C o n d i t i o n S showed signifi-
c a n t l y lower values w i t h a trough i n the afternoon. Sleep d e p r i v a t i o n caused
a dramatic decrease i n performance, which recovered throughout the bedrest
episode ( c o n d i t i o n TSD), reaching the same value as under c o n d i t i o n S.
A more d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s shows t h a t under c o n d i t i o n S, the f i r s t nap had
a b e n e f i c i a l e f f e c t , showing the highest value followed by a steady decrease
a f t e r each suoceding nap. Under c o n d i t i o n TSD, a f u r t h e r decrease i n p e r f o r -
mance became obvious. This sleep d e p r i v a t i o n e f f e c t i s compensated during
the course o f the bedrest c o n d i t i o n .

Discussion
Under conditions allowing spontaneous expression o f t h e sequence o f
sleeping and waking, a polyphasic d i s t r i b u t i o n of the occurrence of sleep
becomes obvious. Under these c o n d i t i o n s , the placement of sleep shows pre-
ferred phase p o s i t i o n s throughout the day besides major sleep episodes i n
the n i g h t phase. The p e r i o d i c occurrence of day sleep a t i n t e r v a l s of about
4 hours has a l s o been found i n e a r l i e r s t u d i e s . Nakagawa (1980) reported a
sleep/waking c y c l e length of approximately 4 hours f o r subjects confined t o

Change in performance
high Median of performance in 4 and 6 hour blocks

520-

500-

CD
c
tX)
E
o 480-
<_
o>
CL

460-

440<

'"'low 0-3 4-7 7-12 13-18 19-0

time of day

Figure 2
Performance measurements i n the three c o n d i t i o n s and during s l e e p depriva-
t i o n . Values (median) are averaged over 4 and 6-hour b l o c k s .
bed f o r 10-12 hours during the day. I n experiments without time cues, when
s u b j e c t s showed i n t e r n a l desynchronization o f rhythms, s e v e r a l peaks i n the
distribution o f s u b j e c t i v e n i g h t s l e e p c o u l d be observed d u r i n g the circa-
d i a n day ( Z u l l e y and Wever, 1982). These peaks had a mean i n t e r v a l o f 5.74
hours. I n a study where s u b j e c t s were recorded d u r i n g 60 hours o f enforced
bedrest, the median day phase sleep/waking c y c l e length was 4.65 hours
(Canpbell, 1984).
These r e s u l t s support t h e assumption t h a t t h e huran sleep/wake system is
more a c c u r a t e l y described by a polyphasic d i s t r i b u t i o n w i t h a 4-hour p e r i o d .
The a c t u a l frequency of napping seems t o depend on the degree t o which the
conditions a l l o w such napping and on the presence o f b e h a v i o r a l o p t i o n s to
sleep. This aspect can be d e s c r i b e d by a p u t a t i v e s l e e p t h r e s h o l d which i s
decreased under the above mentioned experiments. This sleep threshold has
been r a i s e d experimentally by a l l o w i n g more b e h a v i o r a l options to sleep
(Caiqpbell & Z u l l e y , 1985). I n t h i s study, s u b j e c t s showed a c l e a r l y bimodal
distribution o f s l e e p and wakefulness. The nap peak occurred a t about the
same time as nap 2 i n the present experiment. In other words, nap 1 and nap
3, the two adjacent phase p o s i t i o n s f o r s l e e p , were masked by the decrease
o f s l e e p p r o p e n s i t y w h i l e nap 2 s t i l l remained. A p o s s i b l e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of
this is that, by r a i s i n g the s l e e p t h r e s h o l d , the two l e s s robust phase
positions f o r sleep were diminished, w h i l e the more robust phase p o s i t i o n
(nap 2) can s t i l l be seen, p l a c e d halfway between the two major sleep
episodes. Such a bimodal d i s t r i b u t i o n can a l s o be seen i n experiments in
which no i n s t r u c t i o n s regarding s l e e p were given o r when s u b j e c t s napped i n
s p i t e o f the i n s t r u c t i o n s ( Z u l l e y & Campbell, 1985). I f , i n a d d i t i o n , the
propensity f o r s l e e p i s s t i l l decreased by experimental instructions, the
sleep/wake p a t t e r n becomes monophasic. T h i s r e s u l t can be seen i n experi-
ments where napping i s e f f e c t i v e l y suppressed by i n s t r u c t i o n s (Wever, 1979).
The r e s u l t t h a t some s u b j e c t s show a monophasic s l e e p placement, even when
napping i s allowed, c o u l d be e x p l a i n e d by the assumption t h a t the sleep
t h r e s h o l d shows strong i n d i v i d u a l d i f f e r e n c e s . T h i s r e s u l t s i n the phenome-
non that, at a given s l e e p t h r e s h o l d (when napping is allowed), some
s u b j e c t s f e e l unable t o take a nap ( Z u l l e y & Canpbell; i n p r e p a r a t i o n ) .
This variation in the degree o f s l e e p propensity can a l s o be seen in
d a i l y l i f e . I n newborns, M e i e r - K o l l (1979) showed "that the u l t r a d i a n 4-hour
rhythm e s t a b l i s h e d a l r e a d y a t b i r t h does not disappear during the first
month o f l i f e " .
 I t can be assumed t h a t , i n newborns, the sleep t h r e s h o l d i s decreased and
that, w i t h aging, the t h r e s h o l d increases. This assumption i s supported by
the finding that, i n children, the polyphasic p a t t e r n becomes b i p h a s i c ,
which i n our western c u l t u r e i s replaced by a ironophasic p a t t e r n i n a d u l t s .
This hypothesis i s a l s o supported by s t u d i e s which show t h a t , in other
cultures with less structured sociocultural conditions, a biphasic pattern
still remains (Soldatos e t a l . , 1983). I n the g e r i a t r i c population the
b i p h a s i c p a t t e r n reappears, assuming a decrease of the sleep t h r e s h o l d w i t h
age. This p a t t e r n can become polyphasic as has been shown i n demented pa-
t i e n t s (Spiegel e t a l . , 1985). I n a l l these cases, the d i f f e r e n t p r e f e r r e d
phase p o s i t i o n s f o r s l e e p correspond t o those p o s i t i o n s found i n the present
experiment.
Thus, i t can be concluded t h a t the human sleep/wake system i s b a s i c a l l y
expressed by polyphasic d i s t r i b u t i o n o f sleep and wakefulness w i t h a period
of about 4 hours. Yet, i t depends on the environmental c o n d i t i o n s and on
self-imposed behavioral c o n t r o l s t o which extent the separate peaks o f sleep
propensity become obvious. By decreasing the sleep t h r e s h o l d , a ironophasic
circadian p a t t e r n changes i n t o a b i p h a s i c (about 12 hours) p a t t e r n , and a
f u r t h e r decrease r e v e a l s a polyphasic (about 4 hours) p a t t e r n .
In our d a i l y l i f e , we are a b l e t o f u n c t i o n w e l l without napping. This
does not diminish the relevance of naps i n understanding the nature and
f u n c t i o n s of s l e e p . I t might be assumed t h a t v a r i a t i o n s i n the s l e e p t h r e s -
h o l d p a r t i a l l y have the f u n c t i o n of adapting t o environmental and i n d i v i d u a l
needs. T h i s can c l e a r l y be seen i n childhood and o l d age. I n t h i s sense, the
present study f o r c e d the subjects t o sleep more than they a c t u a l l y needed.
The consequence was a decrease i n a l e r t n e s s and mood as w e l l as i n perfor-
mance. Such e f f e c t s can a l s o be seen i n cases where subjects oversleep (Taub
et a l . , 1971). I n c o n d i t i o n S i t i s obvious t h a t enforced bedrest a f t e r a
normal n i g h t s l e e p causes oversleeping. In c o n d i t i o n TSD i t can be assumed
that, after the f i r s t long s l e e p episode, the subjects had recovered from
sleep d e p r i v a t i o n and t h a t the subsequent s l e e p again caused oversleeping.
V i g i l a n c e i s n e g a t i v e l y i n f l u e n c e d by oversleeping (Taub e t a l . , 1971). T h i s
was also seen i n the present study. In d a i l y l i f e such oversleeping is
limited by s o c i a l and occupational pressure, keeping not o n l y an e f f e c t i v e
time schedule but a l s o more e f f i c i e n t v i g i l a n c e .
If, however, the normal amount o r sequence of s l e e p i n g and waking cannot
be continued, a s i g n i f i c a n t l y b e n e f i c i a l e f f e c t o f napping has been found
(Dinges et a l . , 1986). By assuming a p o l y p h a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n of s l e e p and
wakefulness, i t can be hypothesized t h a t a scheduling o f s l e e p and wakeful-
ness w i t h regard t o the u n d e r l y i n g s l e e p p r o p e n s i t y may be b e n e f i c i a l under
circumstances which do not a l l o w a normal amount o f s l e e p .

References
Brickenkanp, (1975). Test d2, Aufnferksaitfceits-Belasti3nqs-Test, Handan-
weisung. Gottingen: Hogrefe.
Carapbell, S. S. (1984). Duration and placement o f s l e e p i n a " d i s e n t r a i n e d "
environment. Psychophysiology, 21, 106-113.
Canpbell, S. S., and Z u l l e y , J . (1985). U l t r a d i a n components o f htman s l e e p /
wake p a t t e r n s d u r i n g disentrainment. I n : H. Schulz and P. L a v i e (Eds.).
Ultradian Rhythms i n Physiology and Behavior. Experimental Brain
Research, Suppl. 12, (pp. 234-255). B e r l i n : Springer.
Dinges, D. F., Orne, E. C , Evans, F. J . , and Qrne, M. T. (1981). P e r f o r -
mance a f t e r naps i n sleep-conductive and a l e r t i n g environments. I n : L.
C. Johnson, D. I. Tepar, W. P. Colquhoun and M. P. O o l l i g a n (Eds.).
Biological Rhythms, Sleep and S h i f t Work, (pp. 539-552). New York:
Spectrun P r e s s .
Dinges, D. F., Orne, E. C , and Orne, M. T. (1983). Napping i n North Ameri-
ca: a s i e s t a rhythm?. Symposium A b s t r a c t s , 4th I n t e r n a t i o n a l Congress
o f Sleep Research, 86.
Dinges, D. F., Orne, M. T., Whitehouse, W. G., and Orne, E. C. (1986).
Napping t o s u s t a i n performance and mood: E f f e c t s o f c i r c a d i a n phase and
s l e e p l o s s . Sleep Research, 15, 214.
Gillberg, M., and A k e r s t e d t , T. (1983). E f f e c t o f a 1-hour nap on p e r f o r -
mance f o l l o w i n g r e s t r i c t e d s l e e p . In: W. P. K o e l l a (Ed.). Sleep 1982.
6th European Congress o f Sleep Research, Z u r i c h 1982, (pp. 392-394).
B a s e l : Karger.
Godbout, R., and M o n t p l a i s i r , J . (1986). The performance o f normal s u b j e c t s
on days w i t h and days without naps. Sleep Research, 15, 71.
Lubin, A., Bord, D. J . , Tracy, M. L., and Johnson, L. C. (1976). E f f e c t s o f
e x e r c i s e , bedrest and napping on performance decrement d u r i n g 40 hours.
Psychophysiology, 13, 334-339.
Meier-Koll, A. (1979). I n t e r a c t i o n o f endogenous rhythms d u r i n g p o s t n a t a l
development. I n t e r n a t i o n a l J o u r n a l o f Chronobiology, 6, 179-189.
Mullaney, D. J . , K r i p k e , D. F., and F l e c k , P. A. (1983). Sleep l o s s and nap
 e f f e c t s on sustained continuous performance. Psychophysiology, 20, 643-
651.
Naitoh, P. (1981). C i r c a d i a n c y c l e s and r e s t o r a t i v e power on naps. I n : L. C.
Johnson, D. I . Tepar, W. P. Colquhoun and M. P. C o l l i g a n (Eds.). B i o l o -
g i c a l Rhythms, Sleep and S h i f t Work, (pp. 553-580). New York: Spectrum
Press.
Nakagawa, Y. (1980). Continuous observation o f EEG p a t t e r n s a t n i g h t and i n
daytime o f normal subjects under r e s t r a i n e d conditions. I . Quiescent
s t a t e when l y i n g down. Electroencephalography and C l i n i c a l Neurophysio-
logy, 49, 524-537.
Ogunremi, O. (1978). The subjective sleep pattern i n Nigeria. Sleep
Research, 7, 163.
Gkudaira, N., Fukuda, H., Ohtani, K., N i s h i h a r a , K., Endo, S., and T o r i i , S.
(1983). Napping p a t t e r n s i n t h e e l d e r l y i n Vilcamhamba, Ecuador. Sym-
posium A b s t r a c t s , 4 t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l Congress o f Sleep Research, 8.
Soldatos, C. R., Medianos, M. G., and V l a c h o n i k o l i s , I . G. (1983). E a r l y
afternoon napping: A f a d i n g Greek h a b i t . I n : W. P. K o e l l a (Ed.). Sleep
1982. 6 t h European Congress o f Sleep Research, Z u r i c h 1982, (pp. 202-
205). B a s e l : Karger.
Spiegel, R., Stahelin, H. B., Seiler, W. O., and A l l e n , S. R. (1985).
Seventy-two hour polygraphic recordings i n dementia: C i r c a d i a n aspects
o f s l e e p and behavior. I n : W. P. Koella, E. Ruther and H. Schulz
(Eds.). Sleep '84, (pp. 439-442). S t u t t g a r t : Gustav F i s c h e r .
Taub, J . M., Globus, D. D., Phoebus, E., and Drury, R. (1971). Extended
s l e e p and performance. Nature, 223, 142-143.
Taub, J . M. and Berger, R. J . (1973). Performance and mood f o l l o w i n g v a r i a -
t i o n s i n length and t i m i n g o f s l e e p . Psychophysiology, 10, 559-570.
Wfebb, W. B. (1978). Sleep and naps. Speculations i n S c i e n t i f i c Technology,
1, 313-318.
Webb, W. B., and Agnew, H. W. (1974). Sleep and waking i n a t i m e - f r e e
environment. Aerospace Medicine, 45, 617-622.
Wfever, R. (1979). The C i r c a d i a n System o f Man. New York: Springer.
Zulley, J . , and Wfever, R. (1982). I n t e r a c t i o n between t h e sleep-wake c y c l e
and t h e rhythm o f r e c t a l temperature. I n : J . Aschoff, S. Dann, and G.
Groos (Eds.). Vertebrate c i r c a d i a n systems, (pp. 253-261). Berlin:
Springer.
Z u l l e y , J . , and Campbell, S. S. (1985). Napping behavior d u r i n g "spontaneous
 H
i n t e r n a l desynchroni2ation : Sleep remains i n synchrony w i t h body tem-
perature. Hunan Neurobiology, 4, 123-126.