[Study of the relationship between intracrânial pressure and paradoxal sleep in the cat (author's transl].

The present study reports on the modification of the intracranial pressure (ICP) during rapid eye movements (REM) sleep in seven chronic cats. 1. REM sleep episodes were characterized by a succession of short lasting (9 +/- 4 seconds) oscillations of the ICP. Peaks amplitude represented a hundred percent increase of the pressure as compared to its resting level. 2. These oscillations either arose from an ICP level similar to that recorded during the preceding slow wave sleep period or were seen to overide a wave of raised ICP that lasted throughout the REM period. 3. Eighty eight percent of the phasic oscillation coincided with a burt of eye movement characteristic of REM sleep. 4. Cerebral pulse wave amplitude can vary for identical ICP mean value in the course of a same REM period.