Effects of acute sleep restriction on behavior, sustained attention, and response inhibition in children

This study examined the effects of acute sleep restriction on the daytime b ehavior and performance of healthy children and adolescents. 82 participant s (8 to 15 years of age) completed 5 nights of baseline sleep and were rand omly assigned to Optimized to hr.) or Restricted (4 hr.) sleep for an overn ight lab visit. Behavior, performance, and sleepiness were assessed the fol lowing day, Sleep restriction was associated with shorter daytime sleep lat ency, increased subjective sleepiness, and increased sleepy and inattentive behaviors but,vas not associated with increased hyperactive-impulsive beha vior or impaired performance on tests of response inhibition and sustained attention, Results are discussed in terms of current theories regarding eff ects of inadequate or disturbed sleep among children and adolescents.