Changes in EEG pre and post awakening

Abstract

This chapter is concerned with behavioral and electrophysiologic evidence of awakenings. Awakenings are understood here as a state change from sleeping to waking. We will discuss the methodological issues and the problem of properly defining an awakening. With regard to phenomena preceding an awakening, we will look at arousals and compare background to event-related activity in the electroencephalography (EEG). As arousability varies between and within species, the relevant EEG correlates of this variability are described. Concerning EEG changes following an awakening, the discussion focuses on sleep inertia effects.