The impact of REM sleep loss on human brain connectivity

Abstract Brain function is vulnerable to the consequences of inadequate sleep, an adverse trend that is increasingly prevalent. The REM sleep phase has been implicated in coordinating various brain structures and is hypothesized to have potential links to brain variability. However, traditional imaging research have encountered challenges in attributing specific brain region activity to REM sleep, remained understudied at the whole-brain connectivity level. Through the spilt-night paradigm, distinct patterns of REM sleep phases were observed among the full-night sleep group (n = 36), the early-night deprivation group (n = 41), and the late-night deprivation group (n = 36). We employed connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) to delineate the effects of REM sleep deprivation on the functional connectivity of the brain (REM connectome) during its resting state. The REM sleep-brain connectome was characterized by stronger connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) and between the DMN and visual networks, while fewer predictive edges were observed. Notably, connections such as those between the cingulo-opercular network (CON) and the auditory network, as well as between the subcortex and visual networks, also made significant contributions. These findings elucidate the neural signatures of REM sleep loss and reveal common connectivity patterns across individuals, validated at the group level.