An examination of the association between chronic sleep restriction and electrocortical arousal in college students

作者：Witkowski Sarah^*; Trujillo Logan T; Sherman Stephanie M; Carter Patricia; Matthews Michael D; Schnyer David M

来源：Clinical Neurophysiology, 2015, 126(3): 549-557.

DOI：10.1016/j.clinph.2014.06.026

• Chronic sleep restriction
• PVT
• ERP
• EEG
• Actigraphy
• Circadian rhythms

Objective: The deleterious neurocognitive effects of laboratory-controlled short-term sleep deprivation are well-known. The present study investigated neurocognitive changes arising from chronic sleep restriction outside the laboratory.
Methods: Sleep patterns of 24 undergraduates were tracked via actigraphy across a 15-week semester. At the semester beginning, at a midpoint, and a week before finals, students performed the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) and cortical arousal was measured via event-related potentials (ERP) and resting state electroencephalography (EEG).
Results: Average daily sleep decreased between Session 1 and Sessions 2 and 3. Calculated circadian rhythm measures indicated nighttime movement increased and sleep quality decreased from Sessions 1 and 2 to Session 3. Parallel to the sleep/activity measures, PVT reaction time increased between Session 1 and Sessions 2 and 3 and resting state alpha EEG reactivity magnitude and PVT-evoked P3 ERP amplitude decreased between Session 1 and Sessions 2 and 3. Cross-sectional regressions showed PVT reaction time was negatively associated with average daily sleep, alpha reactivity, and P3 changes; sleep/circadian measures were associated with alpha reactivity and/or P3 changes.
Conclusions: Small, but persistent sleep deficits reduced cortical arousal and impaired vigilant attention.
Significance: Chronic sleep restriction impacts neurocognition in a manner similar to laboratory controlled sleep deprivation.

• 出版日期2015-3