Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation

inadequate quantity/quality of sleep

full sleep deprivation

when an individual has no sleep within a 24 hour period

partial sleep deprivation

when an individual sleeps for some duration within a 24 hour period, but the sleep duration is too short, or the quality of sleep is poor

Affective effects (relating to sleep deprivation)

the changes in emotions and emotional responses that arise from sleep deprivation

Examples of affective effects (8)

• poor emotional regulation (amplified emotional responses that are out of proportion in comparison to normal emotional responses)

• irritability and moodiness

• increase in negative emotions

• reduced ability to cope with stress

• difficulty judging other peoples emotions

• reduced empathy towards others

• increased aggression and impatience

• increase in mood swings

Behavioural effects (in relation to sleep deprivation)

the changes in actions and the ability to control them that arise from sleep deprivation

Examples of behavioural effects (9)

• sleep inertia (disorientation after waking)

• excessive sleepiness during the day

• increased likelihood of engaging in risk taking behaviours

• fatigue/lack of energy

• slowed reaction time

• reduced efficiency (takes more time to complete tasks)

• reduced motor control and heightened clumsiness

• involuntary lapses into microsleeps

• diminished social functioning and impaired control of behaviour

Cognitive effects (relating to sleep deprivation)

the changes in mental processes that arise from sleep deprivation

Examples of cognitive effects (9)

• reduced concentration

• impairment of STM

• diminished ability to perform cognitive tasks, particularly as the duration of the task increases

• lapses in attention

• impaired decision making processes and problem solving abilities

• diminished creativity and ability to use abstract thought

• reduced retention of information: thus, impaired memory and learning processes

• irrational and/or illogical thinking

• impaired visual and spatial ability

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

a measure of how much alcohol is in a person's bloodstream

microsleep

involuntary brief period of sleep, lasting up to a few seconds

sleep inertia

the performance impairment that occurs immediately after awakening

BAC vs Partial sleep deprivation

A BAC of 0.05% is roughly equivalent to ABC impairments of 17 hours sleep deprivation (partial sleep deprivation)

BAC vs Full sleep deprivation

A BAC of 0.10% is roughly equivalent to ABC impairments of 24 hours of sleep deprivation (full sleep deprivation)