Circadian modulation of human sleep spindle frequency
Homeostatic and circadian processes play a pivotal role in determining sleep structure, timing and quality. In sharp contrast with the wide accessibility of the EEG index of sleep homeostasis, an electrophysiological measure of the circadian modulation of sleep is still non-available. As a consequence, the circadian component of sleep regulation is assumed, but not assessed in routine polysomnographic records. Available evidence suggests that sleep spindle frequencies are markers of the circadian modulation of sleep. In order to test the above assumption, the Budapest-Munich database of sleep records (N = 251), as well as an afternoon nap sleep record database (N = 112) were analysed by the Individual Adjustment Method of sleep spindle analysis. Slow and fast sleep spindle frequencies were characterized by U-shaped overnight dynamics, with highest values in the first and the fourth-to-fifth sleep cycle and the lowest values in the middle of the sleeping period (cycles 2-3). Age-related attenuation of sleep spindle deceleration was evident. Estimated phases of the nadirs in sleep spindle frequencies were advanced in children as compared to other age groups. Additionally, nap sleep spindles were faster than night sleep spindles (0.57 and 0.39 Hz difference for slow and fast types, respectively). Our findings suggest that the circadian modulation of sleep is measurable by a fine frequency resolution analysis of sleep spindles. Moreover, age-related attenuation of circadian sleep modulation can be measured by assessing the overnight dynamics in sleep spindle frequency. Phase of the minimal sleep spindle frequency is a putative biomarker of chronotype.