Sleep Deprivation Can Slow Reaction Time
Sleep deprivation can have an enormous impact on your health and happiness. Apparently, it can also affect your ability to make split-second decisions, according to a recent study in the journal SLEEP. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin split 49 West Point cadets into two groups, 21 of whom were deprived of sleep and 28 of whom were well-rested, and tested them on tasks that require quick decisions. According to the study, participants in each group performed the tasks twice, separated by a 24-hour period. Cadets who were sleep-deprived between testing periods saw their accuracy decline by 2.4 percent, and cadets who were well-rested between testing periods improved by 4.3 percent. W. Todd Maddox, one of the researchers, told HealthDay that the type of thinking tested in this study is "critical in situations when soldiers need to make split-second decisions based about whether a potential target is an enemy soldier, a civilian or one of their own." While people vary in their need for sleep, experts agree that for most adults the amount needed to feel one's best is somewhere between seven and nine hours per night.
- Read the HealthDay article.
- Check out the study abstract.
- Learn about Fatigue and Excessive Sleepiness.
Could you have restless legs syndrome? Learn more about the symptoms so you can talk to your doctor.Have you ever wanted to know what happens to your body during menstruation? The latest infographic from the National Sleep Foundation showcases how your period might affect your sleep -- and what you can do to make sure you rest soundly during that time of the month.The Electronics and Sleep infographic highlights how technology affects the modern family and how parents can help design a sleep...Orexin receptor antagonists: A new class of sleeping pill Find out more about orexin, and a new type of sleep...A peaceful night of slumber can leave you feeling more energized and alert when you wake up. But sleep quality...It’s important to strive for the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night, but counting how much sleep...As the saying goes, silence is golden. Sleeping in a noisy space not only disrupts the quality of your sleep,...For many people, the moment of turning out the light and lying back on a soft pillow is the ultimate...Feeling rested and rejuvenated after a night’s sleep is everyone’s goal, but how is that feeling measured? Sleep satisfaction ,...If you’ve noticed that your sleep habits have changed, without any major shifts to your lifestyle, you may want to...
Source: Internet
