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Electrodermal and Electro‐oculographic Activity in a Hypnagogic State

Tadao Hori

Psychophysiology November 1, 1982 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1982.tb02521.x (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Peer reviewed
Sample size 20
Population Male subjects
Duration Transition period (hypnagogic state) from wake to sleep
Key findings Palmar skin potential level began decreasing 3.5 minutes before stage 1 sleep onset and stopped declining 1.5 minutes before stage 1 onset, indicating it can predict the transition from wake to sleep.

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe present study investigated whether or not changes in spontaneous skin potential activity (SPA) could be used to identify the tendency to fall asleep. Skin potential level (SPL) and skin potential response (SPR) on the palm and on the dorsal hand were studied in 20 male subjects during a transition period (hypnagogic state) from wake to sleep. The negativity of palmar SPL significantly decreased during this transition period. This decline in SPL started 3.5 min before stage 1 onset and terminated 1.5 min before stage 1 onset. Similar anticipatory changes were found in palmar SPR and slow eye movements, suggesting the existence of common central underlying mechanisms. The dorsal hand did not show changes.