Unilateral dopamine deficit and lateral EEG asymmetry: Sleep abnormalities in hemi-parkinson's patients

The hypothesis was tested that unilateral dopamine deficiency leading to the contralateral extrapyramidal syndrome (hemi-parkinsonism) would cause distinctly asymmetric EEG sleep patterns. In 7 hemi-Parkinson's patients 2 nights of sleep were monitored along with pre-sleep waking periods. No medication was given prior to the first night. The second night followed at least 2 months of l-DOPA medication. Although in all patients sleep architecture was disturbed, no statistically significant asymmetries of sleep patterns were obtained. l-DOPA medication improved the quality of sleep. Delta sleep was most visibly improved. Also, post-treatment enhancement of the mean delta power over the parkinsonian hemisphere was supported statistically. The role of dopamine in slow wave sleep control and mechanism of contralateral hemisphere involvement are discussed.