Oxygen Consumption Rate and Electroencephalographic Stage of Sleep

In five male subjects, and a total of 15 man-nights, oxygen consumption rate (V(02)) was related to stage of sleep, as defined by electroencephalograms. Gross periodic variations which paralleled change in stage of sleep were discernible in analogue metabolic records. Computations revealed significant differences (P <.01) between all stages with V(02) highest in stage I REM (dreaming sleep), least in stages III and IV (deep sleep), and intermediate in stage II (light sleep).