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Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
The Role of Sleep for Age-Related Differences in Neurobehavioral Performance
Orna Tzischinsky1, Efrat Barel2
1Department of Behavioral Sciences and the Center for Psychobiological Research, The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Emek Yezreel 1930600, Israel.
Abstract:
This study investigated developmental changes from childhood to adulthood in neurobehavioral performance and sleep measures. While many studies have examined age-related changes between childhood and adolescence and from mid-to-late adulthood, young adulthood has been overlooked. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sleep loss on developmental changes in neurobehavioral performance and sleepiness in a natural setting. A total of 119 children, adolescents, and young adults (38 children aged 6-9; 38 adolescents aged 13-19; and 43 young adults aged 20-27) wore an actigraph for a continuous five-weekday night. Subjective sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale) and neurobehavioral performance (using the psychomotor vigilance test and the digit symbol substitution test) were measured on five school days. The results showed that adolescents and young adults outperformed children on both the digit symbol substitution test and the psychomotor vigilance test measures. However, adolescents committed more errors of commission on the psychomotor vigilance test and reported higher levels of subjective sleepiness. The results are discussed in relation to brain maturation in various cognitive functions.
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