A Healthy Nights Sleep Is Good For Mental Performance

Just before the Second World War in the 1930s one of the most influential figures

in the field of sleep medicine called Nathaniel Kleitman discovered the link between sleep and human cognitive performance. He proved that even when an individual was well rested there was still a significant drop in intellectual performance both early in the morning and late at night.

A Lack of Sleep Has an Adverse Affect on Cognitive Functioning

Nathaniel Kleitman also did research into sleep deprivation and came to the medical conclusion that not getting enough sleep for both short and long periods has a significant effect on the human ability to function cognitively. It negatively impacts on mood, mental focus and higher cognitive functioning. All of these factors combine to create a significant change in mental performance.

Did you know? During laboratory experiments researchers determined that various levels of sleep disturbance have a negative impact on mental performance. This is because the prefrontal cortex, which is particularly vulnerable to a lack of sleep, is also responsible for many higher-level cognitive functions.

The Results of Sleep Disturbance

The most obvious effect of a sleeping disturbance of any significance is sleepiness. On a day to day basis this generally translates into a lack of motivation and fatigue which in turn results in nodding off or moments of cognitive dysfunction.

How is a Sleep Disturbance Measured?

In a clinical sleep research setting scientists measure sleeping disturbances through the use of various methods, the most common being an electroencephalogram or EEG. Every one of these methods picks up a very noticeable change in brain activity after periods of sleep deprivation. These changes in the human brain correspond to a much lower level of alertness and functionality with a very big propensity towards sleepiness.

Did you know? Any continues period of wakefulness of more than 16 hours will lead to the measurable changes in the brain mentioned above. These effects can be seen in research patients, although in a more limited form, even during periods of continues sleep interruption.

Other than feelings of sleepiness and the changes in brain activity that accompany sleep deprivation, there are also other forms of cognitive performance that are altered. These are concentration, memory, higher level mathematical capacity, and logical reasoning. However not all of these functions are impacted to the same degree, but when added together result in a deficits in performance in any task that requires logical reasoning and complex thought.

by: Justin Swanich

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