The Electrodermal Activity in Rats with Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation causes a wide range of cognitive deficits like impairments in vigilance, memory and physiological processes. To our knowledge, few chronic sleep deprivation studies have related the possible electrodermal activity (EDA) changes that show sympathetic activation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of a 21-days sleep deprivation on EDA and neurobehavioral changes in open field area. The study was occurred with young and young adult Wistar Albino rats in Physiology laboratory of Erciyes University Medical Faculty. The rats were randomly divided in six groups in total as a sleep deprivation group, pedestal control group and cages control group, and three of aged-matched groups. The skin resistance levels (SRL) and skin resistance response (SRR) were significantly decreased in substantive level in young and young adults sleep deprivation groups according to control groups. In open field test evaluations in young and young adult sleep deprivation groups significant increase in the number of crossline, rear and defecation. Sleep deprivation caused a decline in the electrodermal activity due to giving rise to increase in sympathetic tonus and anxiety in young and young adult rats.