Few studies have investigated waking electrophysiological measures of arousal during sleep restriction. This study examined electroencephalogram (EEG) activity and performance during a 96‐hour laboratory protocol where participants slept a baseline night (8 h), were randomly assigned to 3‐, 5‐, or 8‐hour sleep groups for the next two nights sleep restriction (SR1, SR2), and then slept a recovery night (8 h). There were dose‐dependent deficits on measures of mood, sleepiness, and reaction time that were apparent during this short‐term bout of sleep restriction. The ratio of alpha to theta EEG recorded at rest indicated dose‐dependent changes in CNS arousal. At 9:00 hours, both the 3‐ and 5‐hour groups showed EEG slowing (sleepiness) during restriction, with the 3‐hour group exhibiting greater deficits. Later in the day at 13:00 hours, the 5‐hour group no longer exhibited EEG slowing, but the extent of slowing was more widespread across the scalp for the 3‐hour group. High‐frequency EEG, a measure of effort, was greater on the mornings following sleep restriction. The 5‐hour group had increased beta EEG at central‐parietal sites following both nights of restriction, whereas the 3‐hour group had increased beta and gamma EEG at occipital regions following the first night only. Short‐term sleep restriction leads to deficits in performance as well as EEG slowing that correspond to the amount and duration of sleep loss. High‐frequency EEG may be a marker of effort or compensation.
", language="", issn="0962-1105", doi="10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00733.x", url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00733.x" }