Research | ultra-slow delta sleep wave power in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | July 2012

July 10, 2012


From the Journal of Psychiatric Research, July 2012 (E-published ahead of print)

Ultra-Slow delta power in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Le Bon O, Neu D, Berquin Y, Lanquart JP, Hoffmann R, Mairesse O, Armitage R.
Brugmann University Hospital, Sleep Laboratory and Unit for Chronobiology U78, Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Brussels, Belgium; Hôpital Erasme, Sleep Research Unit, Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Brussels, Belgium.

Abstract

The role of sleep in patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome is not fully understood.

Studies of polysomnographic and quantitative sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) measures have provided contradictory results, with few consistent findings in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). For the most part, it appears that delta EEG activity may provide the best discrimination between patients and healthy controls.

A closer examination of delta activity in the very slow end of the frequency band is still to be considered in assessing sleep in CFS.

The present preliminary study compared absolute and relative spectral power in conventional EEG bands and ultra-slow delta (0.5-0.8Hz) between 10 young female patients with the CFS and healthy controls without psychopathology. In absolute measures, the ultra-slow delta power was lower in CFS, about one-fifth that of the control group. Other frequency bands did not differ between groups. Relative ultra-slow delta power was lower in patients than in controls.

CFS is associated with lower ultra-slow (0.5-0.8Hz) delta power, underscoring the importance of looking beyond conventional EEG frequency bands.

From a neurophysiological standpoint, lower ultra-slow wave power may indicate abnormalities in the oscillations in membrane potential or a failure in neural recruitment in those with CFS.

3 thoughts on “Research | ultra-slow delta sleep wave power in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | July 2012”

  1. “ultra-slow delta (0.5–0.8Hz) between 10 young female patients with the CFS and healthy controls without psychopathology.”

    Ultra-slow delta is 0.5–0.8Hz. The authors are saying that fatigued people with psychopathology are at the bottom end of this.

    It’s not a very large scale and these are young girls with psychopathology and fatigue?

  2. Does anyone know if an ultra-slow delta brain wave pattern as described above has an adverse effect on heart rate (ie. induce bradycardia), or on respiration (ie. induce sleep apnoea) during deep sleep, or whether any research has been done on the subject?
    Many thanks – Jackie

    1. All people have ultra-slow delta. They were comparing fatigued girls to healthy people without psychopathology.

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