Abstract

Heart rate and R-R intervals of ECG during sleep were examined in healthyyoung men. Heart rate per minute was gradually decreased when the subject fellasleep. Whole through one night sleep data there were two typical heart ratevariation patterns, namely stable stage and fluctuating stage. Sleep stagesdetermined by EEG, EOG and EMG of chin corresponded with these two patterns;slow wave stage (Stage III/IV) showed the stable pattern, REM Stage and StageI showed the fluctuating pattern, Stage II both patterns. Further studies ofcomputed R-R intervals and its variations of ECG revealed 4 typical patternson the variations, and well corresponded with sleep patterns determined by theabove methods. R-R interval varied from 1.39 to 0.67 sec during sleep. R-Rinterval variation before onset of sleep showed lightly rythmical periodicity(20-40 sec) and small fluctuation (0.1 sec) (awaking pattern). R-R intervalsafter onset of sleep extended gradually, fluctuating midly (0.1 sec) and didnot show any periodicity (transient pattern). R-R interval reached its maximumlevelthen. At slow wave stage (S-III/IV) R-R interval showed mild fluctuationas the transient stage, and did not show any periodicity (stable pattern). Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)