Influence of anterior hypothalamic heating on the duration of fast wave sleep episodes

Abstract The influence of diencephalic heating on fast wave sleep has been studied in freely moving cats at thermal neutrality and low environmental temperature. The results show that: 1. 1. Thalamic heating has no influence on fast wave sleep. 2. 2. Anterior hypothalamic heating increases the mean duration of fast wave sleep episodes in both environmental conditions. 3. 3. The effect of anterior hypothalamic heating is exponentially dependent on the increase in anterior hupothalamic temperature (Q 10 100). In conclusion, the neurochemical activity of anterior hypothalamic structures may underlie the evolution of fast wave sleep episodes.