Effects of repeated doses of scopolamine on the electroencephalographic stages of sleep in normal volunteers

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Abstract
Single doses of scopolamine markedly alter sleep patterns in man. This study intended to evaluate the persistence of these changes during continued administration. The design consisted of a sequence of habituation, no‐medication, saline (control), scopolamine (0.006 mg/kg intramuscularly 3 consecutive nights), and saline. The first dose of scopolamine markedly retarded the onset of stage rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (p < 0.005) and diminished the total amount of REM sleep during the night (p < 0.025). A decrease in total number of eye movements (p < 0.05) and an increase in body movements (p < 0.025) were also observed. Changes after the second dose of scopolamine were less marked but still significant. The third dose of scopolamine produced less marked changes than the preceding two. When compared with the first scopolamine night, the onset of stage REM was retarded to a lesser extent (p < 0.05) and the total amount of REM sleep was increased (p < 0.05). An increase in the duration of the first REM period was also observed. Rebound effects on the appearance of the first REM period (p < 0.01), number of eye movements (p < 0.001), total amount of REM sleep (p < 0.01), and body movements were observed in the last saline night.

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