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Performance under sleep-deprivation
PItYSIOLOG~SCHE PSYCHOLOGIE
803
(a) a slight ( + 5 0 p. 100) increase during the no-sleep nights as compared to the normal-sleep nights; (b) an important ( + 2 0 0 p. 100) increase daring the working days after sleep deprivation as compared to the working days after normal sleep; (c) a slight ( - - 3 0 p. 100) decrease during the recovery nights following the no-sleep nights as compared to the recovery nights following the normal-sleep nights.
PERFORMANCE
UNDER SLEEP-DEPRIVATION R. T2 WILKINSON Cambridge (England)
An e• is reported in which those subjects who maintained perf.onnanee in spite of 30-50 hours sleep-deprivation showed a higher le~,el of muscle tension than normal in doing so; those whose performance was impaired did not. To the extent that muscle tension is a measure of activation and reflects level of motivation or drive it is suggested th.at the~ factors play an important part in determining the degree to which loss of sleep impairs performance. Recent work on the effects of sleep-deprivation on performance is reviewed briefly and the present position summarised. The effect of sleep loss on performance increases both with time spent without sleep and time spent or, the task. The diurnal rhythm of activity interacts with this effect. The impair'meat of performance is most clearly seen in lapses of attention, the primary effects of which are upon accuracy in paced tasks and speed in unpaced. The degree of impairment of performance is affected by presence of other stresses, but mainly by the test situation. To the extent that this is novel or rewarding the subject may be moved to overcome the depressing effect of sleep loss on arousal and performance. This he can do surprisingly well, but the achievement may be accompanied by levels of muscle tension which are higher than normal.
803
(a) a slight ( + 5 0 p. 100) increase during the no-sleep nights as compared to the normal-sleep nights; (b) an important ( + 2 0 0 p. 100) increase daring the working days after sleep deprivation as compared to the working days after normal sleep; (c) a slight ( - - 3 0 p. 100) decrease during the recovery nights following the no-sleep nights as compared to the recovery nights following the normal-sleep nights.
PERFORMANCE
UNDER SLEEP-DEPRIVATION R. T2 WILKINSON Cambridge (England)
An e• is reported in which those subjects who maintained perf.onnanee in spite of 30-50 hours sleep-deprivation showed a higher le~,el of muscle tension than normal in doing so; those whose performance was impaired did not. To the extent that muscle tension is a measure of activation and reflects level of motivation or drive it is suggested th.at the~ factors play an important part in determining the degree to which loss of sleep impairs performance. Recent work on the effects of sleep-deprivation on performance is reviewed briefly and the present position summarised. The effect of sleep loss on performance increases both with time spent without sleep and time spent or, the task. The diurnal rhythm of activity interacts with this effect. The impair'meat of performance is most clearly seen in lapses of attention, the primary effects of which are upon accuracy in paced tasks and speed in unpaced. The degree of impairment of performance is affected by presence of other stresses, but mainly by the test situation. To the extent that this is novel or rewarding the subject may be moved to overcome the depressing effect of sleep loss on arousal and performance. This he can do surprisingly well, but the achievement may be accompanied by levels of muscle tension which are higher than normal.