July 5, 2006Open Access
The Neural Basis of Interindividual Variability in Inhibitory Efficiency after Sleep Deprivation
Structured PICO
Does 24 h of total sleep deprivation alter fMRI activation during a go/no-go task in participants?
P
Population
Participants performing a go/no-go task
I
Intervention
24 h of total sleep deprivation
C
Comparator
Normal sleep (rested wakefulness)
O
Outcome
Neural correlates of sleep deprivation-induced differences in inhibitory efficiency (fMRI activation)surrogate
Individuals who better maintain inhibitory efficiency after sleep deprivation show distinct baseline and post-deprivation fMRI activation patterns in the right ventral prefrontal cortex and right insula.
Abstract
Sleep deprivation results in the loss of our ability to suppress a prepotent response. The extent of decline in this executive function varies across individuals. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the neural correlates of sleep deprivation-induced differences in inhibitory efficiency. Participants performed a go/no-go task after normal sleep and after 24 h of total sleep deprivation. Regardless of the extent of change in inhibitory efficiency, sleep deprivation lowered go/no-go sustained, task-related activation of the ventral and anterior prefrontal (PFC) regions bilaterally. However, individuals better able to maintain inhibitory efficiency after sleep deprivation could be distinguished by lower stop-related, phasic activation of the right ventral PFC during rested wakefulness. These persons also showed a larger rise in such activation both here and in the right insula after sleep deprivation relative to those whose inhibitory efficiency declined.