Physiology Sponsored by In healthy people, both sleepiness and
vigilance show a relationship with core body temperature and
skin temperature. When core body temperature is high during the
daytime, skin temperature is low, which translates into optimal
vigilance. Conversely, when core body temperature is low at
night time, skin temperature is high, which correlates to
optimal sleep. Among those suffering from narcolepsy, however,
direct manipulations of their skin and core body temperatures
affect their vigilance and sleepiness, according to a new study.
The study, authored by Rolf Fronczek, of the Netherlands
Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam, and Leiden University
Medical Center in The Netherlands, focused on eight patients who
were diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy and suffered from
excessive daytime sleepiness. The subjects' vigilance was
measured using the Psychomotor Vigilance Task, and their
sleepiness was assessed with the Maintenance of Wakefulness
Test. Meanwhile, their skin temperature