Sleep deprivation and kindled seizures.

Total sleep deprivation in a treadmill, and REM sleep and partial slow-wave sleep deprivation by the platform technique led to reduced seizure threshold in kindled rats. After treadmill deprivation there was also a reduction in seizure duration. Arousing aspects of the sleep deprivation procedures counteracted the sleep deprivation effect. In the treadmill experiment this led to an increase in seizure threshold in the control group. In the platform experiment the reduction in seizure threshold was delayed for 24 h after the deprivation because of these short-acting processes. Seizure thresholds remained low for at least 72 h.