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The flowerpot technique is an animal testing technique used in
The flowerpot technique is an animal testing technique used in sleep
Sleep is a sedentary state of mind and body. It is characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited Perception, sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and reduced interactions with surroundings. It is distinguished from wakefuln ...
deprivation
Deprivation or deprive may refer to:
* Poverty, pronounced deprivation in well-being
** Objective deprivation or poverty threshold, the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country
** Relative deprivation, the lack of resources t ...
studies. It is designed to allow NREM sleep
Non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), also known as quiescent sleep, is, collectively, sleep stages 1–3, previously known as stages 1–4. Rapid eye movement sleep (REM) is not included. There are distinct electroencephalographic and other char ...
but prevent restful REM sleep
Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep or REMS) is a unique phase of sleep in mammals and birds, characterized by random rapid movement of the eyes, accompanied by low muscle tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the sleeper to dream vi ...
. The test is usually performed with rodents
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...
.
Technique
Duringsleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation, also known as sleep insufficiency or sleeplessness, is the condition of not having adequate duration and/or quality of sleep to support decent alertness, performance, and health. It can be either chronic or acute and may vary ...
studies, a laboratory rat
A laboratory rat or lab rat is a brown rat of the subspecies '' Rattus norvegicus domestica'' which is bred and kept for scientific research. While less commonly used for research than mice (see laboratory mouse), rats have served as an import ...
is housed in a water filled enclosure with a single small, dry platform (traditionally, an upside down flowerpot in a bucket of water, from which the technique is named) just above the water line (>1cm). While in NREM sleep
Non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), also known as quiescent sleep, is, collectively, sleep stages 1–3, previously known as stages 1–4. Rapid eye movement sleep (REM) is not included. There are distinct electroencephalographic and other char ...
, the rat retains muscle tone
In physiology, medicine, and anatomy, muscle tone (residual muscle tension or tonus) is the continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles, or the muscle's resistance to passive stretch during resting state.O’Sullivan, S. B. (2007). ...
and can sleep on top of the platform. When the rat enters the more meaningful REM sleep
Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep or REMS) is a unique phase of sleep in mammals and birds, characterized by random rapid movement of the eyes, accompanied by low muscle tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the sleeper to dream vi ...
, it lose muscle tone and fall off the platform into the water, then climb back up to avoid drowning, and reenter NREM sleep, or its nose become submerged, shocking the rat back into an awakened state. This allows the rat to physically rest to avoid fatigue
Fatigue describes a state of tiredness that does not resolve with rest or sleep. In general usage, fatigue is synonymous with extreme tiredness or exhaustion that normally follows prolonged physical or mental activity. When it does not resolve ...
, but deprives it of REM sleep needed for normal mental function. The rat can then be subjected to physical and mental tasks and its performance is compared with the performance of rested control rodents, or its tissue (particulary the brain) be analysed.
See also
*Disk-over-water method
The disk-over-water method is a technique for causing sleep deprivation in laboratory animals.
The subject—for example, a rat or pigeon—is placed on a disk. When the subject shows signs of falling asleep, the disk begins to slowly rotate, at ...
References
* * * {{cite journal , last=Rosenthal , first=Martha S. , title=Physiology and neurochemistry of sleep , journal=American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education , date=Summer 1998 , url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3833/is_199807/ai_n8807543 , volume=62 Animal testing techniques Ethically disputed research practices towards animals Sleeplessness and sleep deprivation