The Effects of Sleep Loss on Individual and Group Performance
Abstract
This experiment was part of a study designed to assess the effects of two-hour naps on cognitive performance during sustained operation conditions. It was conducted using 12 young, military subjects who performed operations officer duties in a simulated brigade-level command post. They worked continuously processing military messages over a 4.5 day period and were tested on several recurring cognitive tasks. This paper reports the results of tasks and questionnaires assessing the effects of sleep loss on both individual and group performance. Across subjects, the results indicate significant sleep loss effects on perceived physical health, sleep quality, sleep value, and attributions of performance on mental tasks and individual and group cognitive performance. Significant individual differences in the effects of sleep loss are also noted. A discussion of the results is presented and its is asserted that there is a need to individualize the placement of naps in future studies to maximize performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA226963
Entities
People
- David W. Jamieson
- Robert H. Stretch
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine