NEUROBEHAVIORAL CONSEQUENCES OF STABLE AND VARIABLE SHORT SLEEP SCHEDULES IN YOUNG ADULTS: A 16-DAY EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

The present laboratory-based study investigated the effects of successive periods of sleep restriction and recovery on neurobehavioral functioning in young adults and further examined whether a variable short sleep schedule would mitigate neurobehavioral impairments relative to a stable short sleep schedule. Fifty-three healthy young adults (26 males, aged: 21-28) were randomly assigned into one of the three groups: control (88888), stable short sleep (66666), or variable short sleep (84846), where each digit corresponded to time-in-bed (TIB) in hours on “weekdays”. Both short sleep groups had a total TIB of 30 h, though nightly TIB varied. All groups underwent two periods of “weekday” sleep opportunity manipulation and “weekend” recovery of 8 h TIB. Neurobehavioral functions were assessed five times a day. In the 66666 group, faster vigilance deterioration was observed in the second week compared to the first week, whereas the 84846 group only showed slower attentional responses. Both short sleep groups showed attenuation in subjective alertness and practice-based improvements in processing speed. Findings suggest that while a variable short sleep schedule may mitigate cumulative effects of chronic sleep restriction in certain cognitive domains, impairments were still present in others. Thus, obtaining 8 h of sleep every night is important.