Sleep deprivation differentially affects subcomponents of cognitive control
Published in Sleep, 2019
Although sleep deprivation is well known to impair cognitive performance, the mechanisms underlying these effects and the cognitive domains most affected remain debated. This study took a theory-driven approach examining the effects of sleep loss on attention and cognitive control, distinguishing sustained attention, bottom-up (automatic) processing, and top-down (strategic) control. Twenty-four participants completed a stop-signal task with EEG recording across three conditions: overnight sleep deprivation, a night of laboratory sleep, and a normally rested night at home.
At the behavioural level, reaction times, response accuracy, and post-error/post-stop slowing were analysed. At the neural level, ERPs associated with response inhibition (N2/P3) and error monitoring (ERN/Pe) were extracted. 24 hours of sleep deprivation reduced sustained attention and attenuated P300 and Pe amplitudes, indicating a breakdown in top-down control. In contrast, N200, ERN, and stop-signal reaction time showed higher resilience, implicating automatic control processes. These results support the view that sleep deprivation disproportionately impairs effort- and capacity-dependent cognitive functions.
Contributions: Assisted in analysis, acquisition, and manuscript revision.
Recommended citation: Kusztor, A., Raud, L., Juel, B. E., Nilsen, A. S., Storm, J. F., & Huster, R. J. (2019). Sleep deprivation differentially affects subcomponents of cognitive control. Sleep, 42(4), zsz016.
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