Effects of Up to Go Hours' Sleep Deprivation on Different Types of Work

Abstract The effects of sloop deprivation upon performance vary widely with the nature of the work being carried out. In the present study impairment was almost complete towards the end of 20 min repetitive serial responding and 30 min inspection work (vigilance). On the other hand, tactical decision taking of a complex, but absorbing and realistic nature was completely unaffected by the same degree of stress oven towards the end of one hour's continuous work. What are the features of a task which determine whether its performance will be impaired by loss of sleep or not? Two are suggested. A task will be vulnerable to sleep deprivation (1) as it is complex, and (2) as it is lacking in interest, incentive and reward. Of the two factors, that of incentive may be the more influential, such that a highly complex task may be little affected by sleep deprivation if it is complex in an interesting or rewarding way.