Operant control of ambient temperature during sleep deprivation

Integrative Comp. PhysioZ. 41): R682-R690, 1997.-Rats subjected to total sleep deprivation (TSD) by the disk-over-water method were provided with a continuously available operant by which they could increase ambient temperature (Tamb). TSD rats progressively increased operant responses for heat to 700 % of baseline levels. During the last quarter of sleep deprivation, they maintained mean Tamb at 9°C above baseline and held Tamb over 40°C for 35 % of the day. In contrast, yoked control rats (TSC) did not change mean Tamb. Although both TSD and TSC rats showed a progressive decline in intraperitoneal temperature (Tip), TSD rats main-tained an elevated Tamb even during periods when Tip and brain temperatures (Tbr) were above baseline levels. Thus these results confirm and extend earlier findings that rats subjected to TSD show an increase in temperature set poin