Sleep deprivation effects on basic cognitive processes: which components of attention, working memory, and executive functions are more susceptible to the lack of sleep?

Introduction Sleep deprived people have difficulties to perform daily activities. Their performance depends on three basic cognitive processes: attention, working memory, and executive functions. Objectives The aim of this study was to identify which specific components of these cognitive processes are more susceptible to a 24-h sleep deprivation period. Material and methods Participants were 23 undergraduate students assigned to one of two groups: a control group (n=11, age=18.73±1.62 years) and a sleep deprivation group (n=12, age=18.08±1.16 years). After sleeping freely, control group participants performed a continuous performance task to evaluate the components of attention, a phonological and a visuospatial tasks to record these components of working memory, and a Stroop-like task to assess cognitive inhibition and flexibility, two components of executive functions, at noon for 3 days. Whereas, the sleep deprivation group participants performed the same tasks at noon: after sleeping freely for one night, after a 24-h sleep deprivation, and after one recovery night. Results After the sleep deprivation, participants had a significant reduction in tonic alertness, selective and sustained attention, components of attention; and in cognitive inhibition, component of executive functions. Conclusion A 24-h sleep deprivation period reduces several specific components of the basic cognitive processes, which are crucial for performing many everyday activities, thus increasing the risk of errors and accidents.