Experienced Demand Does Not Affect Subsequent Sleep and the Cortisol Awakening Response.
Greg J Elder1, Mark A Wetherell2, Thomas V Pollet2
1Northumbria Sleep Research Laboratory, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
Nature and Science of Sleep
|August 18, 2020
Summary
Anticipating cognitive tasks increased anxiety but did not disrupt sleep or the cortisol awakening response (CAR). Experiencing the stressor also did not affect sleep or CAR, suggesting these are markers of anticipation.
Area of Science:
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Stress is linked to sleep disturbances and physiological stress markers.
- The immediate impact of experienced versus anticipated stress on sleep and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if cognitive demand, as a stressor, disrupts sleep and CAR immediately after experience or anticipation.
- To differentiate the effects of experienced versus anticipated stressors on sleep and CAR.
Main Methods:
- 22 healthy adults underwent polysomnography and completed sleep diaries over three nights.
- Saliva samples measured the cortisol awakening response (CAR) over three days.
- Participants experienced either a cognitive task (demand group) or sedentary activities (no-demand group) unexpectedly.
Main Results:
- The demand group reported higher state anxiety after the first cognitive task compared to the no-demand group.
- No significant differences were found between groups in sleep continuity, architecture, or CAR measures on Day 3.
- This suggests that immediate sleep and CAR are not affected by experiencing or anticipating a cognitive stressor.
Conclusions:
- Sleep and CAR are not differentially affected by experienced versus anticipated stressors.
- The CAR appears to be a marker of anticipation rather than recovery.
- Stressors may require personal relevance, prolonged duration, or high intensity to disrupt sleep.
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