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Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Napping during night shift preserves normal neural activity in nurses with sleep deprivation: evidence from
Zhu-Ling Gao1, Zhe-Yi Huang2, Hong-Yu Lin2
1Department of Nursing, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China; Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Background And Purpose:
Neuropsychological studies suggest that napping during night shifts may benefit nurses' brain functions and clinical performance. However, in vivo neuroimaging evidence remains scarce. This study aims to use resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to investigate how night-shift napping modulates neural activity in nurses experiencing sleep deprivation (SD), addressing a critical gap in understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying nap-induced recovery.
Methods:
rs-fMRI was administered to 24 nurses during three sessions: rested wakefulness (RW), SD, and napping (NAP). Within a biological day, RW represented normal sleep duration, SD indicated an absence of sleep, and NAP referred to naps lasting less than two hours during the night. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) analysis was performed to assess spontaneous neural activity and reflect brain function. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance, followed by post hoc paired t-tests, was used to examine ALFF differences.
Results:
A comparison between RW and SD revealed a significant SD-related reduction in ALFF, predominantly affecting the bilateral frontal and temporal cortices, insula, subcortical structures, and cerebellum, and a notable ALFF increase predominantly involving the bilateral occipital cortex, motor and sensory-related areas, parietal lobe, and several temporal regions (FWE-corrected P<0.05). When comparing RW with NAP sessions, the spatial extent of ALFF alterations was significantly reduced (FWE-corrected P<0.05). Additionally, comparison between SD and NAP sessions showed that NAP effectively mitigated the ALFF disturbances induced by SD.
Conclusion:
Night-shift napping may serve as an effective strategy for restoring disturbed neural activity and thereby preserving cognitive and perceptual brain functions. These findings provide novel neuroimaging evidence supporting napping as a neuroprotective strategy for sleep-deprived nurses.
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