Short-Term Sleep Deprivation Impairs Cognitive Performance: Meta-Analysis of 70 Studies
How Does Short-Term Sleep Deprivation Affect Cognitive Performance?
Short-term sleep deprivation significantly impairs cognitive performance across multiple domains, with this meta-analysis of 70 studies demonstrating consistent deficits in attention, working memory, and executive function after just one night of sleep loss. The effects are substantial and immediate, with attention showing the largest impairments, followed by working memory and cognitive flexibility. Even partial sleep deprivation (4-6 hours of sleep) produces measurable cognitive deficits that can impact performance on complex tasks requiring sustained attention and mental processing.