Lapsing during sleep deprivation is associated with distributed changes in brain activation
Michael W L Chee1, Jiat Chow Tan, Hui Zheng
1Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore. mchee@pacific.net.sg
Summary
Sleep deprivation (SD) causes attention lapses with reduced brain activation in control, sensory, and arousal regions. Despite this, fast responses during SD show normal brain activity, indicating interleaved cognitive states.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Lapses in attention, characterized by delayed responses, are more frequent and prolonged after sleep deprivation (SD).
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of attention lapses during SD is crucial for cognitive function research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in brain activation associated with attention lapses during sleep deprivation.
- To differentiate neural mechanisms of lapses during SD from those occurring after normal sleep.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used during a visual selective attention task.
- Analysis involved trial-by-trial modeling of response times and comparison of fastest vs. slowest correct responses.
Main Results:
- Sleep deprivation-related lapses showed reduced activation in frontal, parietal, and visual sensory cortex, alongside decreased thalamic activation.
- In contrast, non-lapse periods during SD exhibited elevated thalamic activation.
- Fastest responses after normal sleep and SD demonstrated comparable frontoparietal activation.
Conclusions:
- Attention lapses during sleep deprivation involve distinct neural patterns compared to lapses after normal sleep.
- Sleep deprivation leads to interleaved periods of normal neural activation and depressed cognitive control, visual perception, and arousal.
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