Total sleep deprivation, chronic sleep restriction and sleep disruption

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Abstract

Sleep loss may result from total sleep deprivation (such as a shift worker might experience), chronic sleep restriction (due to work, medical conditions or lifestyle) or sleep disruption (which is common in sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome). Total sleep deprivation has been widely researched, and its effects have been well described. Chronic sleep restriction and sleep disruption (also known as sleep fragmentation) have received less experimental attention. Recently, there has been increasing interest in sleep restriction and disruption as it has been recognized that they have a similar impact on cognitive functioning as a period of total sleep deprivation. Sleep loss causes impairments in cognitive performance and simulated driving and induces sleepiness, fatigue and mood changes. This review examines recent research on the effects of sleep deprivation, restriction and disruption on cognition and neurophysiologic functioning in healthy adults, and contrasts the similarities and differences between these three modalities of sleep loss.

Section snippets

Basal sleep need

A variety of factors determine the amount of sleep an individual habitually obtains, such as genetic, environmental and societal factors. Sleep needs can be described as habitual sleep duration in the absence of pre-existing sleep debt (Dinges et al., 2005). Given this definition, basal need for sleep appears to be between 7.5 and 8.5 h per day in healthy adult humans. This is based on a study in which any prior sleepiness was removed through many nights of extended sleep that stabilized at a

Total sleep deprivation

The first published investigations of the effect of total sleep deprivation on cognition date back to the late 19th century (Patrick and Gilbert, 1896). The early experiments used lengthy periods of sleep deprivation (e.g. 90 h) and found that memory and reaction time were significantly affected. These studies initiated a new area of research and since then many hundreds of more detailed and systematic studies have been conducted. To date, total sleep deprivation is still the most common

Sleep restriction

Sleep restriction, also known as partial sleep deprivation, occurs when sleep is reduced below an individual's usual baseline or the amount of sleep needed on a regular basis to maintain optimal performance. It is a common phenomenon, as sleep time is affected by a multitude of factors including social responsibilities, work requirements and medical illnesses. A number of different approaches to understanding the mechanisms behind sleep restriction and its effects on cognitive functioning have

Sleep disruption

Sleep disruption is the least researched form of sleep loss. However, a number of studies have shown that disrupted sleep has significant consequences for cognitive functioning (for review, see Bonnet and Arand, 2003). The effects of sleep disruption are particularly pertinent for populations who experience fragmented sleep opportunities as a result of occupational demands, environmental disturbance or certain medical conditions. Further research in this area is particularly important, as

A comparison between sleep deprivation, restriction and disruption

Total sleep deprivation, sleep restriction and sleep disruption all adversely affect cognitive functioning. While sleep disruption has received less systematic investigation than total sleep deprivation and sleep restriction, it has been found to result in a reduction in cognitive functioning on par with total sleep deprivation (Bonnet and Arand, 2003, Wesensten et al., 1999). Similarly, cognitive deficits can accumulate over multiple days of sleep restriction to levels comparable to one or two

Conclusion

Limiting or disrupting sleep opportunities in normal, healthy subjects has significant negative effects on cognitive performance, sleepiness and neurophysiologic functioning. These findings are highly relevant in modern society, with sleep loss increasingly common in the general population. The ramifications of reduced or disrupted sleep opportunities may extend beyond cognitive effects into general safety, health and well being.

Uncited reference

Muecke (2005).

Abbreviations

    EEG

    electroencephalography

    ERPs

    event-related potentials

    N1

    negative polarity ERP with a peak of 100 ms

    P3

    positive polarity ERP with a peak of 300 ms

    PVT

    psychomotor vigilance test

    fMRI

    functional magnetic resonance imaging

    MSLT

    multiple sleep latency test

    MWT

    maintenance of wakefulness test

    REM

    rapid eye movement

Acknowledgements

Siobhan Banks is supported by a University of South Australia Research Fellowship for Women in Science. Amy Reynolds is supported by a University of South Australia Postgraduate Award.

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