Journal article

The Impact of Alcoholism on Sleep Evoked Delta Frequency Responses

Ian M Colrain, Kate E Crowley, Christian L Nicholas, Mayra Padilla, Fiona C Baker

BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY | ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC | Published : 2009

Abstract

BACKGROUND: K-complexes (KCs) are evoked delta frequency electroencephalogram (EEG) responses during sleep that occur when large numbers of healthy cortical cells burst fire in a synchronized manner. The KC amplitude and incidence are sensitive measures of normal healthy brain aging. Given the known neurodegenerative consequences of alcohol abuse it was hypothesized that alcoholism would be associated with further KC amplitude and incidence reductions. METHODS: Eighty-four subjects (42 alcoholics) screened for medical, psychiatric, and sleep problems participated. The protocol involved the presentation of auditory stimuli during stage 2 sleep throughout a night in the laboratory. The KCs wer..

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Grants

Awarded by National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)


Funding Acknowledgements

The work was funded by National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Grant AA14211. We wish to thank Dolf Pfefferbau, Edie Sullivan, and John Trinder for their contributions to the work.