[Effect of 36h total sleep deprivation on the object working memory: an ERP study]

Objective: To investigate the effects of 36 h total sleep deprivation (TSD) on object working memory by event related potential(ERP). Methods: We used a pre-post-design, sixteen healthy college students (age range: 21-28 years, mean age: 23 years) received object working memory tasks while awake and after 36 hours of TSD and simultaneously recording electroencephalograph (EEG) data while completing 2-back object working memory tasks. ERP data were statistically analyzed using repeated measurements analysis of variance to observe the changes in the working memory-related P2, N2 and P3 components. Results: After 36 h TSD, the latency of N2 waves related to object working memory significantly was prolonged (P＜0.05), and the amplitude was decreased, but difference did not reach statistical significance (P＞0.05). The latency of P2 was significantly prolonged after TSD (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in the change of latency and amplitude of P3 waves (P＞0.05). Conclusion: 36 h of total sleep deprivation affected working memory-related components and impaired object working memory capacity.