Subjective sleep onset latency is influenced by sleep structure and body heat loss in human subjects

Summary The present study examined the relationship between subjective sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep structure, changes in skin and body temperature, and subjective evaluation of sleep in healthy young adults to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of insomnia. A total of 28 participants (age 21.54 [0.50] years) with no sleep problems participated in a 1‐h polysomnographic recording that obtained objective sleep parameters during the daytime while skin and body temperatures were recorded. The distal–proximal skin temperature gradient (DPG) was calculated. Subjective parameters, such as subjective SOL, sleep time, and restorative sleepiness, were evaluated before and after sleep. Most participants estimated their sleep latency as being longer than their actual SOL (13.7 versus 7.6 min). Objective SOL was significantly correlated with each sleep stage parameter whereas subjective SOL was negatively correlated with Stage N2 sleep duration (Rho = −0.454, p = 0.020), slow‐wave activity and delta power (Rho = −0.500, p = 0.011 and Rho = −0.432, p = 0.031, respectively), and ΔDPG (the degree of reduction of heat loss before and after lights‐off). Stepwise regression analysis showed that ΔDPG was the strongest predictive factor in explaining the length of subjective SOL. The degree of heat dissipation before and after lights‐off contributed most to the sensation of falling asleep in healthy young adults. This finding may be helpful for elucidating the physiological mechanisms of insomnia and its treatment.