Effect of sleep deprivation on response threshold for signal detectability parameter, beta

In contrast to a previous study (Deaton, Tobias, & Wilkinson, 1971), data are presented which demonstrate significant decreases in response bias (beta) as well as sensitivity (d') following one night of sleep deprivation. It is argued that previous failures to observe significant decreases in beta may be related to the disparity in the number of noise and signal-plus-noise trials in these experiments. The use of parametric analysis to test the effect of sleep deprivation on d' and beta is recommended.