Sleep loss does not numb a person's response to emotional situations, but it can result in difficulties in regulating emotional response.
Reductions in reaction time, memory, and other neuropsychological problems persist for at least seven days following a ten-day period of insufficient sleep.
New mothers who sleep less than seven hours a night six months after giving birth had an increase in biological age of between three to seven years compared to new moms who slept for seven or more hours.
Daydreaming and mind-wandering appear to occur when parts of the brain fall asleep while other areas remain awake.
Three consecutive nights of sleep loss can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health. Sleep deprivation can lead to an increase in anger, frustration, and anxiety. Additionally, those who experienced sleep loss reported a change in physical wellbeing, including gastrointestinal and respiratory problems.
Sleep duration of five hours or less was associated with double the risk of dementia in older adults. Sleep disruptions also increased death risk in those in their seventies.
People report experiencing greater feelings of anger on days following disrupted sleep.
Following a night of sleep deprivations, levels of tau in the blood increase 17% in healthy young men.
Deep sleep restores the medial prefrontal cortex mechanisms that restore emotion. This lowers emotional and physiological reactivity, preventing the escalation of stress and anxiety.
After just one sleep deprived night, the ability of the liver to produce glucose and insulin is altered, increasing the risk of developing metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, researchers report.
Researchers report just one night of sleep loss can have a tissue specific impact on metabolism and the regulation of gene expression. The study could explain why those who suffer chronic sleep loss or work shifts are at greater risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
A new study reveals people are suffering dream deprivation as a result of being deprived of REM sleep. Researchers report dreams are essential for memory and mental health. Dream deprivation can lead to an increased risk of depression and illness.
