Twenty-Four Hours of Total Sleep Deprivation Selectively Impairs Attentional Networks

Abstract

Performance decrements after sleep loss have been extensively studied and are usually attributed to generic attentional deficits. This claim, however, is based on the view of attention as a unitary construct, despite evidence that it should be considered a multidimensional cognitive ability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of one night of sleep deprivation on the efficiency of three attentional networks, defined by Posner and Raichle (1994) in anatomical and functional terms, as alerting, orienting, and executive control. Thirty participants performed the Attention Network Test at 9:00 a.m. following two different sleep conditions: baseline (a normal night of sleep) and deprivation (24 hrs of wakefulness). Results showed an overall slowing in reaction times and a significant decrease in accuracy after sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation selectively affected the three attentional networks, given that only executive control efficacy significantly decreased after sleep deprivation. By contrast, phasic alerting and orienting showed no differences in the two sleep conditions. Thus, performance deficits following sleep deprivation do not reflect global attentional deficits.

Cognitive Impairment After Sleep Deprivation Rescued by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Application in Octodon degus

“…However, sleep prior to learning may influence memory processes as well, by delimiting the ability of neuronal networks to process new knowledge and the capacity to encode novel retention. Insomnia has a deleterious influence in people and sleep deprivation (SD) has been studied as one of the paradigms that most efficiently produces transient cognitive impairment (Walker and Stickgold, 2004) (Jugovac and Cavallero, 2012) (McEwen, 2006) (Huber et al, 2004) in both animals and humans (Alzoubi et al, 2012) (Palchykova et al, 2006) (Alhaider et al, 2011). This produces, in both procedural and declarative memories (Jugovac and Cavallero, 2012) an inadequate integration.…”

“…Insomnia has a deleterious influence in people and sleep deprivation (SD) has been studied as one of the paradigms that most efficiently produces transient cognitive impairment (Walker and Stickgold, 2004) (Jugovac and Cavallero, 2012) (McEwen, 2006) (Huber et al, 2004) in both animals and humans (Alzoubi et al, 2012) (Palchykova et al, 2006) (Alhaider et al, 2011). This produces, in both procedural and declarative memories (Jugovac and Cavallero, 2012) an inadequate integration. Some aspects of sleep function has been studied with SD, as well it has been considered the cognitive levels and brain function in situations of sleep loss (Colavito et al, 2013).…”

“…Furthermore, many therapeutic and medical disciplines, particularly those referred to brain functions, has characterized as an important animal model for research (Tarragon et al, 2013). We used SD as a condition which alters the formation and expression of memories and originates a failure in both procedural and declarative memories (Walker and Stickgold, 2004) (Jugovac and Cavallero, 2012) (Huber et al, 2004).…”

Emerging adults’ sleep patterns and attentional capture: the pivotal role of consistency

“…In its most basic form, this flanker task requires observers to respond to the direction of a central arrow flanked on both sides by arrows pointing in either the same (compatible) or opposite (incompatible) direction. Sleep deprivation has been shown to have more detrimental effects on incompatible trials (vs. compatible), which require observers to inhibit a contrary response produced by the flanker arrows in favor of the correct response indicated by the center arrow (Jugovac and Cavallero 2012;Martella et al 2011).…”

“…Experimental manipulations of sleep deprivation or restriction on attention have been inconsistent, with studies showing no effects (Blinks et al 1999;Verstraeten et al 2004), selective effects (Jugovac and Cavallero 2012;Martella et al 2014;Roca et al 2012;Versace et al 2006) and systematic effects (Bratzke et al 2009;Cote et al 2008;Martella et al 2011;McCarthy and Waters 1997;Sadeh et al 2011) across attentional measures. Such inconsistencies may signal that the effects of sleep duration on cognitive performance are qualified by other aspects of emerging adults' sleep, such as variability in sleep patterns.…”