Figure 1.

Nonuniform distribution of the SWDs, sleep–wake states, and sleep–wake transitions across 24-h day in WAG/Rij rats, a validated genetic animal model of CAE. (A) Total duration (mean) of sleep–wake states and total duration of SWDs in a resolution of 1 h (upper graph) and 6 min (lower graph) (n = 12). AW, active wakefulness; PW, passive wakefulness; SWS L, light slow-wave sleep; SWS D, deep slow-wave sleep; REM, REM sleep; SWDs, spike-wave discharges. The dark phase of the 12:12 light–dark cycle is marked by the shaded background. (B) Mean of the number of transitions between sleep–wake states across 24 h (data resolution: 1 h). AW–PW, transitions from active to passive wakefulness; PW–AW, transitions from passive to active wakefulness; SWS L–SWS D, transitions from light to deep slow-wave sleep; SWS D–SWS L, transitions from deep to light slow-wave sleep. The dark phase of the 12:12 light–dark cycle is marked by the shaded background. The occurrence of SWDs has a similar course as active wakefulness and opposite to deep slow-wave sleep. The rhythm of absence seizures seems to be coupled to transitions around wakefulness across 24-h day. However, considering slow-wave sleep transitions, phase-related difference might be noticed. The occurrence of SWDs follows them during the dark phase, while in the light phase, seizures are less frequent when the light–deep slow-wave sleep transitions are numerous. Modified from Smyk (118).