Some Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Tracking Performance in Static and Dynamic Environments,
Abstract
The influence of approximately 34 and 55 h of sleep deprivation on performance scores derived from manually tracking the localizer needle on an aircraft instrument was assessed under both static (no motion) and dynamic (whole-body angular acceleration) laboratory conditions. In each of two experiments, 20 young men were equally divided into groups of control and sleep-deprived subjects. All tests were conducted in an enclosed Stille-Werner rotator in total darkness with the exception of the illuminated tracking display. In both experiments, significant decrements in dynamic tracking performance were uniformly obtained after 24 h and more of sleep loss. Static tracking scores were also impaired but less consistently so. In Experiment II, administration of d-amphetamine after 53 h of sleep loss produced a sharp drop in error for both static and dynamic tracking. Although performance at both types of tasks remained poorer for sleep-deprived subjects, their static tracking scores did not differ significantly from control subjects 2 h after drug ingestion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA033331
Entities
People
- William E. Collins
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration