TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - Sleep deprivation effects on basic cognitive processes: which components of attention, working memory, and executive functions are more susceptible to the lack of sleep? JO - Sleep Science A1 - García, Aída A1 - Angel, Jacqueline Del A1 - Borrani, Jorge A1 - Ramirez, Candelaria A1 - Valdez, Pablo SP - 107 EP - 118 VL - 14 IS - 2 N2 - INTRODUCTION: Sleep deprived people have difficulties to perform daily activities. Their performance depends on three basic cognitive processes: attention, working memory, and executive functions.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify which specific components of these cognitive processes are more susceptible to a 24-h sleep deprivation period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants were 23 undergraduate students assigned to one of two groups: a control group (n=11, age=18.73±1.62 years) and a sleep deprivation group (n=12, age=18.08±1.16 years). After sleeping freely, control group participants performed a continuous performance task to evaluate the components of attention, a phonological and a visuospatial tasks to record these components of working memory, and a Stroop-like task to assess cognitive inhibition and flexibility, two components of executive functions, at noon for 3 days. Whereas, the sleep deprivation group participants performed the same tasks at noon: after sleeping freely for one night, after a 24-h sleep deprivation, and after one recovery night.

RESULTS: After the sleep deprivation, participants had a significant reduction in tonic alertness, selective and sustained attention, components of attention; and in cognitive inhibition, component of executive functions.

CONCLUSION: A 24-h sleep deprivation period reduces several specific components of the basic cognitive processes, which are crucial for performing many everyday activities, thus increasing the risk of errors and accidents.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1984-0659 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1984-0063.20200049 ID - ref1 ER -