Baseline odor identification ability predicts degradation of psychomotor vigilance during 77 hours of sleep deprivation.
Scores on the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, a measure of the functional integrity of the orbitofrontal cortex, were used to predict the vulnerability to cognitive declines during 77 hr of sleep deprivation. Twenty-one healthy volunteers completed the Smell Identification Test at rested baseline followed by repeated psychomotor vigilance testing throughout each night. Participants with better smell identification abilities sustained faster speeds and fewer lapses on the second and third nights of sleep deprivation than participants with lower scores. Individual differences in trait-like functioning of the orbitofrontal cortex are predictive of the ability to sustain alertness and vigilance during continuous wakefulness.
Killgore
William D S
WD
Department of Behavioral Biology Division of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC, USA. killgore@mclean.harvard.edu
McBride
Sharon A
SA
Killgore
Desiree B
DB
Balkin
Thomas J
TJ
Kamimori
Gary H
GH
D000328:Adult; D001076:Aptitude / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D002110:Caffeine