[Effect of various monoamine oxidase inhibitors on the structure of the sleep-wakefulness cycle of the cat].

The effect of some monoamine oxidase inhibitors (phenelzine, transamine, nialamide) on the structure of the cat sleep--wakefulness cycle involved an increase of slow-wave sleep at the expense of totally inhibited REM sleep and substantial reduction of wakefulness. Following this effect, selective rebound of wakefulness occurred against the background of total or partial absence of REM sleep. The partial deprivation of wakefulness induced with monoamine oxidase inhibitors seem to entail an accumulation of a specific need in the given physiological state, the gratification of which is effected through its rebound in the post-deprivation cycle.