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Effects of Sleep Duration on Electroencephalographic and Autonomic Nervous System Responses to High-Intensity
Jae-Hyun Jung1, Wi-Young So2, Jae-Myun Ko3
1Department of Physical Education, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Sleep restriction alters the body's response to high-intensity exercise in young women. Post-exercise, sleep-restricted individuals showed significant changes in brain activity and autonomic nervous system function compared to those with normal sleep.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Autonomic Nervous System Research
Background:
- Sleep duration is crucial for physiological recovery and adaptation.
- High-intensity exercise places significant demands on the central and autonomic nervous systems.
- Understanding how sleep impacts exercise responses is vital for optimizing training and recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of sleep duration on physiological responses to high-intensity exercise.
- To compare electroencephalography (EEG) and photoplethysmography (PPG)-derived indices between sleep restriction (SR) and normal sleep (NS) groups post-exercise.
- To assess heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) differences based on sleep duration after exercise.
Main Methods:
- Forty healthy female university students were divided into SR and NS groups.
- EEG indices (theta-to-beta ratio, spectral edge frequency at 90%) and PPG-derived autonomic indices (HRV index, sympathetic, parasympathetic activity) were measured pre- and post-exercise.
- Heart rate and RPE were monitored at rest, immediately post-exercise, and at 5, 10, and 15 minutes post-exercise.
Main Results:
- The SR group exhibited increased theta-to-beta ratio and decreased spectral edge frequency at 90% post-exercise.
- Autonomic nervous system indices showed decreased HRV index, increased sympathetic activity, and decreased parasympathetic activity in the SR group.
- Higher resting and post-exercise heart rate and significantly higher RPE were observed in the SR group compared to the NS group.
Conclusions:
- Sleep duration significantly influences the central and autonomic nervous system's response to high-intensity exercise in young women.
- Sleep restriction may impair physiological recovery and increase exercise-induced stress.
- These findings highlight the importance of adequate sleep for exercise adaptation and performance.
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