The sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded from anterior (Fz/Cz) and posterior (Pz/Oz) bipolar derivations in two developmental groups: 20 pre- or early pubertal (Tanner 1/2, mean age 11.4 +/- 1.1 years, 11 boys) and 20 late pubertal or mature adolescents (Tanner 4/5, 14.1 +/- 1.3 years, 8 boys). A sleep-state independent reduction of EEG power over almost the entire frequency range was present in Tanner 4/5 compared with Tanner 1/2 adolescents. Spectral characteristics of the sleep EEG yielded state- and frequency-dependent regional differences that were similar in both developmental groups. Anterior predominance of power in delta and sigma ranges occurred in non-rapid eye movement sleep. Rapid eye movement sleep EEG power was greater in low delta, alpha, and sigma ranges for the posterior derivation and in theta and beta ranges for the anterior derivation. The decay rate of the sleep homeostatic process--reflected by the exponential decline of the 2-Hz EEG power band across the sleep episode--did not differ for derivations or groups. These results indicate that the nocturnal dynamics of sleep homeostasis are independent of derivation and remain stable across puberty.