Sleep Spindles in the EEGs of Hyperactive Children

Abstract

Electroencephalograms (EEGs) of 11 boys, aged 3 to 11 yr., who had been diagnosed as Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity were compared with 11 controls matched for age and sex. The purpose was to determine whether there was any difference between the groups in the number of sleep spindles present during Stage 2 sleep. The EEGs of the subjects studied were typical of those performed in most clinical laboratories, with approximately 8 min. of daytime Stage 2 sleep recorded for each child. Most of the subjects in both groups were given Chloral Hydrate to induce sleep. The number of sleep spindles/sec. in Stage 2 sleep and the time spent in Stage 2 sleep were estimated for each subject, and means were obtained for both groups. Findings showed no statistically significant differences between hyperactive and control groups. The results cast doubt on the significance of sleep spindle activity in assessing hyperactivity or in resolving current theoretical issues relating to hyperactivity.