• G J Lavigne, M Zucconi, V Castronovo, C Manzini, F Veglia, S Smirne, and L Ferini-Strambi.
• Sleep studies Centre/Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur and Faculty of Dental Medicine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Québec H3C 3J7, Montréal, Canada. gilles.lavigne@umontreal.ca
• Clin Neurophysiol. 2001 Mar 1; 112 (3): 532-5.

ObjectiveDuring wakefulness, nociceptive thermal stimulation can trigger a rapid and transient rise in heart rate (HR). During sleep, HR variations are different across sleep stages; HR is more variable in stage 2 and in REM than in stages 3 and 4. The aim of this study was to assess the HR response to experimental thermal stimulation during different sleep stages.MethodsEight young subjects free of sleep and pain problems, underwent a night of polysomnographic recording during which experimental thermal stimulations were applied. During all sleep stages (St), a series of cold, warm/control and heat pain stimulations were applied over the shoulder skin by means of a water-driven system. Variation of HR interval was measured for 6 s before and for 6 s during the thermal stimulation.ResultsIn comparison to control warm stimulation, experimental nociceptive thermal stimulation induced a significant rise in HR during sleep; HR increased by 7% in St 2, 5.4% in St 3&4, and by 4.3% in REM sleep.ConclusionThe brief increase in cardiac activity with experimental nociceptive stimulation suggests that during sleep, the autonomic-cardiac nervous system remains reactive to external sensory inputs and is part of the physiological response to preserve body safety and sleep integrity in the face of potentially harmful stimulation.

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