Slow-wave sleep during short naps is associated with fewer cognitive deficits during sleep deprivation

Sleep, zsab152, https: //doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab152

Explanation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of short periods of sleep (i.e. naps).

Some studies have concluded that naps can help reduce cognitive processing deficits caused by sleep deprivation, but the effects of short naps are unknown.

Therefore, we tested the effects of short nap opportunities (30 or 60 minutes) during sleep deprivation on two cognitive processes: wide range, placekeeping, and attention.

Participants (N= 280) completed a placekeeping task (UNRAVEL) and an attentional vigilance task (Psychomotor Vigilance Task [PVT]) in the evening and were randomly assigned to either stay awake overnight or sleep at home.

Sleep-deprived participants were randomly assigned to receive either no nap, 30 minutes, or 60 minutes of opportunity, and napping participants were set up with polysomnography.

The results showed that sleep deprivation reduced performance on both tasks, but the nap opportunity did not reduce the impairment. This suggests that longer naps may be needed to make a difference. However, participants who napped have been found to have reduced performance impairments on these tasks if they spent more time in slow wave sleep (SWS).