title: Topographic electroencephalogram changes associated with psychomotor vigilance task performance after sleep deprivation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) is a widely used method for the assessment of vigilance after sleep deprivation (SDEP). However, the neural basis of PVT performance during SDEP has not been fully understood. In particular, no studies have investigated the possible relation between EEG topographical changes after sleep loss and PVT performance. The aim of the present study is to assess the EEG topographic correlates of PVT performance after SDEP.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 40 h of SDEP, 16 healthy male subjects were evaluated in four sessions performed at the same time (11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.) of the first and second day with: (a) subjective sleepiness recordings by means of the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS); (b) EEG recordings (5 min eyes-open condition); and (c) PVT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SDEP induced a slowing of PVT reaction times (RTs), higher level of subjective sleepiness and an increase of delta, theta, alpha and beta 1 EEG activity. Only slowest PVT RTs were influenced by circadian factors, with longer RTs in the morning. Both fastest PVT RTs and KSS scores were positively correlated with post-SDEP changes in EEG theta activity, mainly in centro-posterior areas, but not with other EEG frequencies. KSS scores and PVT measures were also positively correlated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that SDEP differently affects PVT variables, and that an increase in theta activity may be the principal EEG basis of the post-SDEP slowing of fastest PVT RTs. Similar neural mechanisms seem to underlie both performance deterioration to PVT and the increase of subjective sleepiness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorgoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferlazzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Atri
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gizzi Torriglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lauri
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marzano
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of The Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: luigi.degennaro@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Gennaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: EEG power; Karolinska Sleepiness Scale; Psychomotor vigilance task; Sleep deprivation; Sleepiness; Sustained attention