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Oculomotor responses during partial and total sleep deprivation
Laura M Rowland1, Maria L Thomas, David R Thorne
1Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA. lrowland@mprc.umaryland.edu
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|July 16, 2005
Summary
Oculomotor tests, specifically saccadic velocity, can detect sleepiness-induced performance decline. These measures accurately predict operational impairment from sleep deprivation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Pupil light reflex (PLR) and saccadic velocity are sensitive to sleepiness.
- These oculomotor responses may indicate fitness for duty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of oculomotor responses in assessing sleep deprivation effects.
- To determine if oculomotor measures can predict performance degradation.
Main Methods:
- 12 healthy subjects underwent an 8-day protocol with restricted sleep and 64-hour total sleep deprivation.
- Oculomotor tests (pupil constriction latency, saccadic velocity) and a driving simulator task were administered every 3 hours.
- Subjective sleepiness and driving accidents were also recorded.
Main Results:
- Total sleep deprivation significantly increased pupil constriction latency and decreased saccadic velocity.
- Saccadic velocity showed the most significant changes during sleep deprivation.
- Recovery sleep normalized oculomotor function; increased sleepiness and driving accidents correlated with impaired oculomotor responses.
Conclusions:
- Oculomotor functions, especially saccadic velocity, are viable for assessing neurophysiological changes due to sleep deprivation.
- These measures can predict operational performance degradation caused by sleep loss.