Sleep Research Shows to Sleep is Vital for Good Health

Recent research carried out in the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School has shown that sleep deprivation can cause short periods where brain function almost stops. A a study, imaging research was carried out on people who had been subjected to sleep deprivation. People who are sleep-deprived experience periods of near-normal brain function, but these periods are interspersed with severe drops in attention, which has been compared to a moment of power failure in the brain.

The research, which was published in the Journal of Neuroscience, highlights the importance of preventing sleep deprivation for people that carry out critical tasks, such as operating machinery and night driving. The experiments used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain blood flow in people who were either kept awake all night or allowed a good night’s sleep.

During imaging, researchers showed participants large letters made up of many smaller letters. Participants were then asked to identify either the large or small letters and to indicate their responses by pressing a button. Those participants with the fastest responses, both in sleep-deprived and well-rested conditions, showed similar patterns of brain activity. However, those well-rested and sleep-deprived participants with the slowest responses – also known as attentional lapses – showed varying patterns of brain activity. During attentional lapses, researchers discovered diminished activity in the brain command centres in sleep-deprived compared to well-rested volunteers. This finding suggests that sleep deprivation reduces the brain’s ability to compensate for lost focus, something which is done automatically when alert.

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Sleep-deprived people also showed reduced activity in brain regions involved in visual processing during attention lapses. Because the brain becomes less responsive to sensory stimuli during sleep, reduced activity in these regions indicates that during attention lapses, the sleep-deprived brain enters a sleep-like state.

It is not uncommon for sleep deprived people to “nod off” during work, and find it extremely difficult to stay awake and focussed on a job. This research shows that this is because the brain is literally forcing a brief shut down in an attempt to get some much needed rest.

Sleep deprivation can be extremely dangerous, especially for people driving at night, or operating machinery or tools. A momentary lapse of concentration can be fatal. The only solution is to ensure that you get a the required sleep everyday. Ideally eight hours per night, although sleep deprivation can be avoided with less sleep for some people, and the addition of 15 minute power naps during the day can be enough to prevent the brain shutting down on you.

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