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Short Daytime Naps Briefly Attenuate Objectively Measured Sleepiness Under Chronic Sleep Restriction
Jared M Saletin1,2, Cassie J Hilditch1,2, William C Dement3
1E.P. Bradley Hospital Sleep Research Laboratory, Providence, Rhode Island.
Sleep
|September 22, 2017
Summary
Short naps can temporarily reduce sleepiness from chronic sleep loss, but benefits are short-lived and do not last into the next day. Careful consideration is needed before using naps as a routine countermeasure.
Area of Science:
- Sleep science
- Chronobiology
- Human physiology
Background:
- Sleep restriction negatively impacts alertness and cognitive function.
- Napping is a known countermeasure for acute sleep loss.
- The effectiveness of naps for chronic sleep loss is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of napping as a countermeasure to chronic sleep restriction.
- To assess the duration and timing of nap benefits on sleepiness.
- To compare objective and subjective measures of sleepiness following naps.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent 7 nights of 5-hour sleep opportunity.
- A Nap condition group had a daily 45-minute nap opportunity at 1300h.
- Sleepiness was measured using the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and a visual analogue scale.
Main Results:
- Daytime naps reduced objective sleepiness for 6-8 hours post-nap.
- Subjective sleepiness benefits emerged later and were also short-lived.
- No significant nap benefits were observed the following morning.
Conclusions:
- Short naps can temporarily alleviate sleepiness from chronic sleep restriction.
- Objective and subjective nap benefits manifest differently and are transient.
- Naps may not be a suitable routine countermeasure for chronic sleep loss due to limited carry-over effects.