Sleep Loss Effects on Continuous Sustained Performance.
Abstract
The ability to sustain continuous performance for up to 42 hours was studied with 30 subjects. During each 10 minutes, subjects performed a tracking task, a pattern memory task, an addition task, and provided subjective ratings on sleepiness and attention-fantasy scales plus a brief written description summarizing their thoughts. Of the 10 subjects required to work alone, 4 did not complete the 42 hours and 9 experienced 'psychological events' such as hallucinations, visual illusions, and disorientation. Of the 20 subjects who began the 42-hour task in pairs, 5 did not complete the 42 hours and 13 experienced similar psychological events. The percentage who did not complete the 42 hours of study and the incidence of psychological events were not significantly different for subjects working alone and in pairs. Performance results were very similar. No significant relationship of psychological events to any of our performance measures was demonstrated. These results indicate that continuous sustained performance in itself causes rapid deterioration of performance and psychological disturbances, regardless of the presence or absence of social contact. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 30, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA122392
Entities
People
- Daniel F. Kripke
- Daniel J. Mullaney
- Nobuyuki Okudaira
- Paul A. Fleck
Organizations
- University of California, San Diego