T. Nakano et al., Nineteen-hour variation of postural sway, alertness and rectal temperatureduring sleep deprivation, PSY CLIN N, 55(3), 2001, pp. 277-278
Nineteen-hour variation of postural sway. alertness and rectal temperature
during sleep deprivation were studied. Alertness decreased gradually at nig
ht and remained low until morning. Postural sway in the eyes-closed conditi
on increased during early morning. In six of the eight subjects the greates
t sway was observed during the 3-h period when rectal temperature was at it
s minimum. It is suggested that unbearable sleepiness during sleep deprivat
ion will give rise to measurable impairment of postural balance especially
during the time zone of temperature nadir.