Review article

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2016.55.03.17

The impact of sleep deprivation on the brain

Tatjana Trošt Bobić ; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Šečić ; Clinical Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Iris Zavoreo ; Clinical Department of Neurology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Valentina Matijević ; Clinical Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Branimir Filipović ; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Željka Kolak ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vinkovci General Hospital, Vinkovci, Croatia
Vanja Bašić Kes ; Clinical Department of Neurology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Dubravka Ciliga ; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dubravka Sajković ; Clinical Unit for Rehabilitation of Traumatology Patients, Clinical Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Each sleep phase is characterized by specific chemical, cellular and anatomic events of vital importance for normal neural functioning. Different forms of sleep deprivation may lead to a decline of cognitive functions in individuals. Studies in this field make a distinction between total sleep deprivation, chronic sleep restriction, and the situation of sleep disruption. Investigations covering the acute effects of sleep deprivation on the brain show that the discovered behavioral deficits in most cases regenerate after two nights of complete sleep. However, some studies done on mice emphasize the possible chronic effects of long-term sleep deprivation or chronic restriction on the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In order to better understand the acute and chronic effects of sleep loss, the mechanisms of neural adaptation in the situations of insufficient sleep need to be further investigated. Future integrative research on the impact of sleep deprivation on
neural functioning measured through the macro level of cognitive functions and the micro molecular and cell level could contribute to more accurate conclusions about the basic cellular mechanisms responsible for the detected behavioral deficits occurring due to sleep deprivation.

Keywords

Sleep deprivation; Cognition; Brain

Hrčak ID:

172611

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/172611

Publication date:

9.11.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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