Neurocognitive performance, sleep

Changes in performance capability during continuous wakefulness can be conceptualized as a two-process interaction (33), derived from the two-process model of sleep regulation (54). Specifically, sleepiness and performance are influenced by the homeostatic sleep drive (producing monotonic increases in impairment) and by circadian rhythmicity (near 24-hr cycles) (33,58). Daily circadian modulation of neurocognitive performance has been consistently noted since the first studies of sleep deprivation and human performance (2,13). 

Taken together these studies illustrate the efficacy and sensitivity of the PVT in the assessment of neurocognitive performance in a number of experimental, clinical, and operational paradigms. Because of its high degree of reliability, validity, lack of dependence on aptitude, and ability to be repeatedly administered, the PVT can be used to quantify the effects of sleep loss, and other manipulations, on neurobehavioral capability across a number of days. Studies... 

Psychomotor Vigilance Performance Neurocognitive Assay Sensitive to Sleep Loss... 

A wide variety of tests have been used in sleep deprivation experiments ranging from simple tests of reaction time (e.g., Refs. 1,2,13) to complex tasks of higher-order cognitive capacity and PFC function (e.g., Refs. 9,14,15). The diversity of performance tests available for use in performance testing leads to a fundamental question What are the criteria for an effective neurocognitive assay under conditions of sleep deprivation, where effective means theoretically meaningful, empirically sensitive, and practically useful ... 

The PVT has been a primary performance assay for demonstrating the cumulative neurocognitive effects from chronic partial sleep deprivation... 

In summary, generally the speed or efficiency of neurocognitive and psychomotor task completion has been found to be more affected by restricted sleep than has the quality or accuracy of performance, although increased mental effort appears to mitigate these effects in the short term in some studies. Furthermore, studies that utilized tests that involve longer periods of sustained vigilance have been more likely to demonstrate adverse effects of sleep loss. 

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