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Heightened sexual interest and sleep disturbanceThe study demonstrates a behavioral effect of selective sleep disturbance in normal human subjects. Ten male subjects were selectively REM-deprived for two nights by awakening them at the onset of REM sleep. In addition, there were baseline and non-REM awakening conditions. Heightened sexual interest was defined by the number of film frames (using a Mackworth camera) in which subjects fixated on parts of the female figure in photographs. The largest mean difference in sexual interest was found between baseline and REM-deprivation. Both the non-REM awakenings and REM-sleep deprivation enhanced sexual interest. The failure to demonstrate a significant difference between REM-deprivation and non-REM awakenings may be due to the fact that subjects were REM-sleep-deprived in both conditions. It is suggested that REM-sleep loss may lead to increased selective attention and preoccupation with any cues which are usually interesting.
Document ID
19750036886
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Zarcone, V.
De La Pena, A.
Dement, W. C.
(U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital, Palo Alto; Stanford University Stanford, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1974
Publication Information
Publication: Perceptual and Motor Skills
Volume: 39
Subject Category
Behavioral Sciences
Accession Number
75A20958
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-020-168
CONTRACT_GRANT: PHS-MH-13860
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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