Research
Mixed
Sleep deprivation significantly impairs human functioning, with partial sleep deprivation having a more profound negative effect on mood and cognitive performance than short-term or long-term total sleep deprivation.
Prioritize sleep duration and consistency. Partial sleep deprivation (sleeping less than 5 hours in 24 hours) is more damaging to your mood and cognitive abilities than staying awake for 45+ hours. Do not underestimate the functional cost of cutting sleep short; it degrades performance significantly.
StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
we found that mood is more affected by sleep deprivation than either cognitive or motor performance and that partial sleep deprivation has a more profound effect on functioning than either long-term or short-term sleep deprivation.
Why this rating
Meta-analysis of 19 studies with 1,932 subjects provides high statistical power and objective quantification.
Source
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Performance: A Meta-Analysis
June J. Pilcher et al. · SLEEP · 1996
Meta-analysis · 19 studiesCited 1,545×
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