The Effect of Sleep Loss on the Human Visual Event-Related Potential

Abstract

In eight volunteer subjects, the latency of both crest and trough components of visual sensory Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) was found to be increased following 48 hours of total sleep deprivation, relative to baseline levels. The amplitude of the component was not affected, nor was the recovery cycle. These results, together with previously reported data from other studies, led to the hypothesis that the ERP may be a measure of brain function that differentiates fatigue and drowsiness. Whereas drowsiness is accompanied by changes in amplitude but not latency of the ERP, after sleep deprivation the opposite effect is seen; the latency of visual ERPs increases but amplitude is not affected. The ERP may prove to be a rapidly obtained, objective measure of fatigue that does not depend on subjective responses or on complex behavioral tests.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA145364

Entities

People

  • D. J. Hord
  • M. Tracy

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude
  • Arousal (Physiology)
  • Auditory Signals
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Research
  • Circadian Rhythms
  • Computers
  • Data Reduction
  • Deprivation
  • Intensity
  • Intervals
  • Measurement
  • Psychophysiology
  • Reaction Time
  • Recovery
  • Sleep Deprivation
  • Tape Recorders

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience