Effects of rapid versus slow accumulation of eight hours of sleep loss.
The present study assessed alertness, memory, and performance following three schedules of approximately 8 hr of sleep loss (slow, intermediate, and rapid accumulation) in comparison to an 8-hr time in bed (TIB) sleep schedule. Twelve healthy individuals aged 21-35 completed each of four conditions according to a Latin Square design: no sleep loss (8-hr TIB for 4 nights; 2300-0700), slow (6-hr TIB for 4 nights; 0100-0700), intermediate (4-hr TIB for 2 nights; 0300-0700), and rapid (0-hr TIB for 1 night) sleep loss. On each day, participants completed a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), a probed-recall memory task, a psychomotor vigilance task, a divided attention task, and the Profile of Mood States. "Rapid" sleep loss produced significantly more impairment on tests of alertness, memory, and performance compared to the "slow" accumulation of a comparable amount of sleep loss. The impairing effects of sleep loss vary as a function of rate, suggesting the presence of a compensatory adaptive mechanism operating in conjunction with the accumulation of a sleep debt.
Drake
C L
CL
Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. cdrake1@hfhs.org
Roehrs
T A
TA
Burduvali
E
E
Bonahoom
A
A
Rosekind
M
M
Roth
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000523:psychology*