Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

916
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
916
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

1.2K
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
1.2K
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

2.4K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
2.4K
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.1K
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
1.1K
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

283
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
283
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

654
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
654

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Neurobehavioral functions and sleep architecture during polyphasic and monophasic short sleep schedules.

Sleep·2026
Same author

Glucose homeostasis during recurrent periods of sleep restriction and recovery in healthy young adults.

Sleep·2025
Same author

Changes in sleep architecture during recurrent cycles of sleep restriction: a comparison between stable and variable short sleep schedules.

Sleep advances : a journal of the Sleep Research Society·2025
Same author

Neurobehavioral functions during recurrent periods of sleep restriction: effects of intra-individual variability in sleep duration.

Sleep·2024
Same author

Predicting vigilance vulnerability during 1 and 2 weeks of sleep restriction with baseline performance metrics.

Sleep advances : a journal of the Sleep Research Society·2023
Same author

Staying vigilant during recurrent sleep restriction: dose-response effects of time-in-bed and benefits of daytime napping.

Sleep·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.3K

Neurobehavioural functions during variable and stable short sleep schedules.

Tiffany B Koa1, June C Lo1

  • 1Centre for Sleep and Cognition, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Journal of Sleep Research
|December 17, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Variable sleep schedules may help maintain cognitive function during sleep restriction. A highly variable sleep schedule (8486) preserved alertness, unlike stable or less variable schedules, suggesting recovery sleep is beneficial.

Keywords:
cognitive performancemoodnight-to-night sleep variabilitysleep restrictionsleepiness

More Related Videos

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.6K
Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
08:58

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

10.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.3K
Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.6K
Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
08:58

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

10.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Science
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep restriction negatively impacts neurobehavioral functions.
  • The effects of variable sleep schedules on mitigating these deficits are not well understood.
  • Understanding optimal sleep patterns during periods of limited sleep is crucial for maintaining performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if variable sleep schedules can mitigate neurobehavioral deficits caused by sleep restriction.
  • To compare the effects of different sleep schedule variabilities on sustained attention, processing speed, and subjective sleepiness.

Main Methods:

  • A 4-night experiment with 78 young adults (18-28 years).
  • Four groups with different time-in-bed schedules (e.g., 8888, 8666, 8846, 8486 hours).
  • Sleep monitored by actigraphy; neurobehavioral functions assessed via Psychomotor Vigilance Task and processing speed tests.

Main Results:

  • The stable sleep group (8888) showed faster sustained attention; variable schedules (8846, 8486) also improved processing speed.
  • The most variable schedule (8486) preserved subjective sleepiness, unlike less variable schedules (8666, 8846).
  • Stable sleep (8888) maintained vigilance, while variable sleep (8486) mitigated sleepiness during sleep restriction.

Conclusions:

  • Variable sleep schedules, particularly those allowing for some recovery sleep, can mitigate neurobehavioral deficits from sleep restriction.
  • A highly variable schedule (8486) was effective in preserving subjective sleepiness.
  • Findings suggest flexibility in sleep timing may be adaptive when sleep opportunities are limited.