[Dynamics of oxygen tension in different areas of the hypothalamus during the sleep-wakefulness cycle].

In wakefulness and paradoxical sleep, fast waves prevailed in the PO2 oscillations in the posterior hypothalamus whereas in slow wave sleep fast oscillations of PO2 prevailed in the anterior hypothalamus and preoptic area. These shifts of the PO2 during wakefulness and PS seem to reflect an enhancement of the functional activity of the posterior hypothalamus. During slow wave sleep, the functional activity must be enhanced in the anterior hypothalamus and preoptic area, while in the posterior hypothalamus it is suppressed.