Heat production during sleep.

Heat production during sleep was studied by continuous indirect calorimetry with simultaneous electroencephalographic monitoring. Controlling for gross influences on heat production, comparisons of heat production during different sleep stages showed heat production in stage 4 sleep to be significantly lower than in other sleep stages. There appeared to be a gradation in heat production in non-rapid-eye-movement stages of sleep with stage 2 higher and stage 4 lower than stage 3. Heat production in stage 4 was less variable than in any other sleep stage. Both the level and variability of heat production was similar in stage 2 and rapid-eye-movement sleep. Heat production during the night was 9% lower than during resting wakefulness. The average heat production in stage 4 sleep was 14.4% lower than resting wakeful values.