Homeostatic and circadian aspects of sleep regulation in young poor sleepers

Poor sleepers are a valid model for studying sleep/wake regulation in insomnia. The respective influence of the homeostatic and circadian components of this regulation was studied using various protocols (habitual sleep, recovery after sleep deprivation, bedrest, sleep latency in MSLT and RTSW procedures, and circadian rhythms of body temperature and alertness during a 24-hour constant routine). Poor sleepers were compared to age matched good sleepers studied using similar procedures. The main results are reviewed. Our findings do not support a deficiency in the homeostatic component of sleep/wake regulation. An abnormality in the relationship between the sleep/wake cycle and temperature rhythm cannot be excluded, although most of our results are consistent with the hyperarousal hypothesis.