Wauquier A, van Sweden B, Kerkhof G A, Kamphuisen H A
University of Leiden, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, The Netherlands.
Behav Brain Res. 1991 Jan 31;42(1):7-11. doi: 10.1016/s0166-4328(05)80034-8.
The concept of a first night effect on sleep patterns, specifically in relation to age is a controversial topic in the literature. Our data are obtained during two consecutive 24-h ambulatory home sleep-wake recording in 10 elderly persons with a mean age of 85.5 years. Polysomnographic recordings indicated that a first night effect is present in old age, even using home recording, and that several types of insomnia can be differentiated, stressing that sleep cycle parameters should be taken into account. It is suggested that the first night effect is a 'miniature' replication of a psychophysiological insomnia.
