Abstract
Introduction
The ability to detect and subsequently correct errors is important in preventing the detrimental consequences of sleep loss. We report the first study to compare the effects of total sleep deprivation (TSD) and sleep restriction (SR) on error awareness.
Methods
Thirteen healthy adults (11F, age=26.8±3.4y) underwent a 34h TSD protocol, completing the Error Awareness Task (EAT: a combined Stroop/1-back/GoNogo task) at 4h and 27h post-wake. Twenty healthy adults (11F, age=27.4±5.3y) were studied both well-rested (WR: 9h sleep) and following SR (3 nights of 3h sleep), completing the EAT once/day (8-9h post-habitual wake). The EAT required participants to withhold responding to “nogo” stimuli and signal, via a button press, whenever they realised they made an error on these nogo trials.
Results
TSD did not significantly affect error rate (p=.712) or error awareness rate (p=.517), however, participants were slower to recognise errors after TSD (p=.004). In contrast, SR increased error rate (p<.001), decreased error awareness (p<.001), and slowed recognition of errors (p<.01).
Discussion
Three nights SR impaired the ability to recognise errors in real-time, despite a greater number of errors being made. Thus, impaired error awareness may be one mechanism underlying increased sleep loss-related accidents and errors in occupational settings, as well as at home. Interestingly, 1-night TSD did not lead to more, or impaired recognition of errors. TSD participants were slower to recognise errors, which may be problematic in safety critical settings. Technological and/or operational solutions may be needed to reduce the risk of errors going unrecognised.