Barbato Giuseppe, De Padova Vittoria, Paolillo Antonella Raffaella, Arpaia Laura, Russo Eleonora, Ficca Gianluca
Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43. 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Physiol Behav. 2007 Jan 30;90(1):151-4. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2006.09.023. Epub 2006 Oct 27.
Sleep deprivation (SD) is a technique of sleep-wake manipulation which has been used to treat depression. Changes in neurotransmitter systems, that are also involved in the effects of the antidepressant drugs, have been suggested as the possible mechanisms of action of SD. However, the therapeutic effect of SD is acute and transient, while antidepressant effects of drug treatments are gradual and stable. SD might work throughout mechanisms that are different from those mediating drug's effects. In the present study we analyzed the role of dopamine activity in SD. Spontaneous eye blink rate provides a non invasive measure of central dopamine activity. We assessed eye blink rate across prolonged wakefulness (from 10:00 a.m. to 07:00 a.m.) in 25 young normal subjects. Eye blink rate increased at the end of the wakefulness period. Blink rates and sleepiness as assessed by Karolinska Sleepiness Scale correlated positively with time spent awake. We propose that increased blink rate might reflect a dopamine activation that counteracts sleep drive. Antidepressant effects of sleep deprivation might be related to activation of the physiological mechanisms which regulate wake maintenance.
睡眠剥夺（SD）是一种用于治疗抑郁症的睡眠-觉醒操控技术。有研究表明，与抗抑郁药物作用相关的神经递质系统变化可能是SD的潜在作用机制。然而，SD的治疗效果是急性且短暂的，而药物治疗的抗抑郁效果则是渐进且稳定的。SD可能通过与介导药物作用的机制不同的机制发挥作用。在本研究中，我们分析了多巴胺活性在SD中的作用。自发眨眼率是一种非侵入性的中枢多巴胺活性测量指标。我们评估了25名年轻正常受试者在长时间清醒状态（上午10:00至凌晨07:00）下的眨眼率。在清醒期结束时，眨眼率增加。通过卡罗林斯卡嗜睡量表评估的眨眼率和嗜睡程度与清醒时间呈正相关。我们认为，眨眼率增加可能反映了一种抵消睡眠驱动力的多巴胺激活。睡眠剥夺的抗抑郁作用可能与调节清醒维持的生理机制激活有关。
