EEG and behavioural correlates of mild sleep deprivation and vigilance

The current study investigated the behavioral, cognitive, and electrophysiological impact of mild (only a few hours) and acute (one night) sleep loss via simultaneously recorded behavioural and physiological measures of vigilance.

Participants (N = 23) came into the lab for two testing days where their brain activity and vigilance were recorded and assessed. The night before the testing session, participants either slept from 12am to 9am (Normally Rested), or from 1am to 6am (Sleep Restriction).

Vigilance was reduced and sleepiness was increased in the Sleep Restricted vs. Normally Rested condition, and this was exacerbated over the course of performing the vigilance task. As well, sleep restriction resulted in more intense alpha bursts. Lastly, EEG spectral power differed in Sleep Restricted vs. Normally Rested conditions as sleep onset progressed, particularly for frequencies reflecting arousal (e.g., delta, alpha, beta).

The findings of this study suggest that only one night of mild sleep loss significantly increases sleepiness and, importantly, reduces vigilance. In addition, this sleep loss has a clear impact on the physiology of the brain in ways that reflect reduced arousal.

Understanding the neural correlates and cognitive processes associated with loss of sleep may lead to important advancements in identifying and preventing deleterious or potentially dangerous, sleep-related lapses in vigilance.