Actigraphic assessment of sleep-wake cycle during over-wintering at Belgrano II argentine Antarctic station

AGUSTÍN FOLGUEIRA; JUAN MANUEL CUIULI; VALERIA CRIPPA; ALEJANDRO PATAGUA; PATRICIA AGOSTINO; SANTIAGO PLANO; ANA ZIMMERMAN; MARTA BARBARITO; FRANCIS TUERLINCKX; OMER VAN DEN BERGH; ANDRÉ AUBERT; NANDU GOSWAMI; EDWIN MULDER; MICHEL NICOLAS; GUIDO SIMONELLI; STEVEN LOCKLEY; DIEGO GOLOMBEK ; DANIEL E. VIGO

Simposio; XIII Latin American Symposium on Chronobiology (LASC); 2015

Artificial lightening conditions during polar night at extreme latitudes are associated with sleep-wake cycles disorders. Rest-activity patterns may vary due to cultural factors and housing conditions that differ between stations of diverse countries. Objectives: We sought to explore sleep duration and sleep quality in the crew of Belgrano II argentine Antarctic station (77°52?28??S, 34°37?37??W). Methods: A group of 13 subjects were assessed using actigraphy and sleep diaries during 2014 winter campaign. Differences were evaluated using univariate repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Sleep duration reached its minimum value on July (362 ± 13 min) compared to March (426 ± 11 min) and November (394 ± 11 min) values (p 90% with not significant variations. Conclusions: Results from this study are consistent with findings previously reported in the literature. Results from Belgrano II will serve as control variables for currently ongoing analyses of biological rhythms that include autonomic activity and time estimation in Belgrano II and other Antarctic stations.