Body posture affects electroencephalographic activity and psychomotor vigilance task performance in sleep-deprived subjects.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effects of posture on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) performance in 16 sleep-deprived volunteers.


METHODS
EEG data were collected while participants completed 10 min PVTs under two counterbalanced sitting/standing conditions during 28 h of continuous wakefulness.


RESULTS
In both the sitting and standing conditions, theta activity progressively increased as a function of sleep loss, but standing upright significantly attenuated this effect, suggesting that alertness was improved by the more upright posture. The PVT results showed that cognitive psychomotor performance was maintained at nearly well-rested levels by standing upright, whereas reaction time and attention noticeably deteriorated when participants were seated.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that an upright posture increases EEG arousal and sustained attention, indicating that postural manipulations can be useful for counteracting fatigue in sleep-deprived individuals.
Caldwell
John A
JA
Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker, AL 36362-0577, USA. john.caldwell@brooks.af.mil
Prazinko
Brian
B
Caldwell
J Lynn
JL
D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D001611:Beta Rhythm; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012016:Reference Values; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013826:Theta Rhythm