Psychophysiological correlates of the spontaneous K-complex.

Stimmary.-A pilot study covering three nights and two studies were carried out to investigate the psychophysiological correlates of the spontaneous K-complex in relation to intense psychotherapy. The pilot study produced evidence that the K-complex was not consistent and stable within or across nights and that its variability might be sensitive to psycho-emotional influences. In the first major study 2 subjects were recorded non-consecutively over a 3-wk. period during experience of intensive iherapy while in the second 6 subjects were studied before and after two therapeutic sessions. Results indicated that nights aker therapy differed significantly from baseline nights and a significant interaction took place between subjects and therapy on one or more variables of the K-complex and several eye movement indices. Some relationship to length of time in therapy was also noted. These findings were interpreted to indicate a possible relationship between complete expression of feeling and the occurrence of phasic events in the sleeping EEG.