Dynamic asynchrony in brain function and behavioral impairment during sleep deprivation: An fMRI study on individual
Chen Cheng1, Rui Zhao2, Yue Zhang1
1Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Shaan Xi, Xi'an, 710126, China.
Sleep Medicine
|December 13, 2025
Summary
Sleep deprivation impairs brain function, particularly in vulnerable individuals. Thalamic connectivity changes were linked to performance decline, but this connection weakened over time.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Sleep Research
Background:
- Sleep deprivation (SD) is a prevalent issue with significant impacts on cognitive function.
- Prior research examined SD's effects on brain function and behavior separately, lacking integration of individual differences and dynamic changes.
- Understanding the interplay between brain activity and performance during SD is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic interplay between brain functional connectivity and behavioral performance during sleep deprivation.
- To explore individual variability in response to sleep deprivation by stratifying participants into vulnerable and resilient subgroups.
- To analyze how changes in brain connectivity correlate with performance decrements over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) on 36 participants across rested wakefulness and two sleep deprivation time points (04:00 and 08:00).
- Employed functional connectivity density (FCD) and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analyses to assess dynamic brain changes.
- Stratified participants into vulnerable/resilient groups based on PVT performance and performed correlation analyses between performance changes and connectivity alterations.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation between psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) performance changes and thalamic functional connectivity was observed at 04:00 in the vulnerable group.
- This association between thalamic connectivity and PVT performance was absent in the resilient group.
- The identified relationship between thalamic connectivity and performance was disrupted between 04:00 and 08:00.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated a temporal decoupling between the degradation of thalamic functional connectivity and the impairment of PVT performance.
- Highlighted the importance of individual differences in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying sleep deprivation.
- Suggests that thalamic connectivity changes may not consistently predict behavioral deficits throughout extended sleep deprivation periods.
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