An analyis of the effect of paradoxical sleep deprivation on visuospatial component of working memory in wistar rats

Background: Working memory has two loops the phonological and visuospatial loops. Sleeps have a profound influence on these loops but the exact role played by REM and NREM sleep on working memory is controversial. Aim: The present study focuses on the effect of paradoxical sleep deprivation on visuospatial component of working memory and also the gender wise difference in response to sleep deprivation. Materials and Methods: Paradoxical sleep deprivation was done in wistar rats using flower pot technique. Before sleep deprivation the working memory was analyzed using radial maze. Sleep deprivation was done for 24, 48 and 72 hours and after each day working memory was analyzed. Results: Statistical analysis was done using Paired T test and ANOVA. The maze running time decreased after 48 and 72 hrs of sleep deprivation while the number of wrong entries increased after sleep deprivation. On gender wise comparison, females were found to make more wrong entries with increased duration of sleep deprivation. Discussion: Paradoxical sleep had increased influence on the visuospatial component of working memory and deprivation of this phase of sleep can result in wrong judgements and this effect was found to be more in females than males.