SLEEP AND ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Captive macaque monkeys housed for long periods of time in single cages often develop behaviors that are atypical for their species and may indicate disturbance and abnormality. A common atypical behavior is stereotyped repetitive locomotion. A less common (3-5%) behavior type is potential or actual self-injurious behaviors (SIBs). SIBs include actions such as self-biting, chronic hair pulling or grooming, and head banging. SIB may occur daily or much less frequently in different animals, and is often resistant to treatment. This study tested the hypothesis that SIB is correlated with disturbed sleep. Eight pairs of aged adult monkeys (m. fascicularis) included one animal that exhibited daytime SIB and one not seen to exhibit SIB during daytime hours. Movement during night (room dark) hours was detected by an infrared video system, which activated computer digital video recording for the duration of movement. Amount of activity was automatically recorded and video scenes were scored by observers for the type of activity. Overall, SIB monkeys had more night wake periods for longer durations than controls. SIB monkeys often exhibited their SIB behavior during active periods. Of most importance for identifying animals with SIB, one control monkey, never observed to self-bite, exhibited the most self-biting during the night. Sleep observations are currently being followed in infant and juvenile monkeys to determine relationships between night period activity and daytime behavior and cortisol.