Hemispheric EEG differences during rem sleep in dextrals and sinistrals

Variations in EEG total power and in single frequency bands during REM sleep have been studied in normal right-handed and left-handed subjects. A reduction in the R/L ratio was observed in right-handed subjects while a statistically significant increase was noted in left-handed subjects. In a number of this subjects, a wakening was provoked during REM sleep using non-verbal auditory stimuli. The R/L ratio found in REM sleep did not show any significant variation in the immediately successive wakeful state. The results indicate that the presence of a power asymmetry during REM sleep is in that this asymmetry frequently changes immediately after experimental awakening.