A peptide that induces slow-wave (delta) and spindles electroencephalogram enhancement after intraventricular (brain) infusion has been isolated from rabbits and given the name delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP). Amino acid seqeunce: Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu. This compound, five possible metabolic products (containing residues 1--8, 2--9, 2--8, 1--4, and 5--9), two nonapeptide analogues with two amino acids exchanged, and a related tripeptide (Trp-Ser-Glu) were synthesized. All nine synthetic peptides were infused intraventricularly in rabbits under double-blind conditions. A total of 58 rabbits including controls were evaluated. The electroencephalogram leads from the neocortex and the archicortex were directly fast-Fourier transformed and analyzed by a Univac 1108 computer system. Only the delta-sleep-inducing peptide (snythetic) showed significant and specific enhancement/induction of delta and spindle electroencephalogram patterns.