Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Memory and Sleep Latencies in Connection with Repeated Awakenings From Sleep

Twelve subjects were kept awake 64 hrs. During baseline and recovery sleep, subjects were given a simple memory task. The subjects were awakened 3 times each night during slow‐wave sleep and shown 4 playing cards. Approximately 90 min later the subjects were again awakened and tested for retention of the previous cards and given 4 new cards to learn. This procedure was repeated 3 times each night and upon awakening the following morning. On the recovery night recall was reduced, slow‐wave sleep was lengthened, sleep latency was shortened, and body motility was reduced. It was suggested that the reason for the poorer recall was deeper sleep induced by the sleep deprivation.