Relationship between Neurocognitive Functions of Sleep Deprived Versus Non-Sleep Deprived Adolescents of Nagpur

Abstract

Rationale: Adequate sleep is very important for healthy & happy life and also for optimum performance. Deprivation of sleep as in medical students during examination is characterized by increasing lapsing, cognitive slowing, memory impairment, decrease in vigilance, sustained attention. Also affect ability to make a split-second decision. Objective: To study the effect of one night sleep deprivation on neurocognitive performance of subjects in the morning of the following day. Methods: 30 healthy male, medical college students of 24-26 years of age group were selected who were preparing for PG Medical entrance examination. Selected participants were studied twice. Depending upon duration of sleep, study was divided into two parts:First part of the study was performed in the next morning following the adequate sleep at night (ASDN=>7) Hrs. Neuro-cognitive test & Reaction time were measured. Results: Neurocognitive function test score (MMSE) of subjects exposed to sleep deprivation [28.73+0.98] was not significantly changed [28.9+0.96](p=0.1340). Mean Auditory reaction time of subjects exposed to sleep deprivation [186.6+ 4.76 ms] was significantly more [166.63+ 4.81ms] ( p =0.005). Mean visual reaction time of subjects exposed to sleep deprivation [245.83+20.28ms] was significantly more [188.26+5.40ms] ( p =0.005).

Conclusion: We found a strong effect of time awake on reaction time suggesting that cognitive functions such as RT are more vulnerable to be affected by sleep deprivation rather than the other neurocognitive functions.