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Naps not as effective as a night of sleep at dissipating sleep pressure
Author(s) -
Tarokh Leila,
Van Reen Eliza,
Achermann Peter,
Carskadon Mary A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of sleep research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2869
pISSN - 0962-1105
DOI - 10.1111/jsr.13295
Subject(s) - nap , sleep (system call) , circadian rhythm , slow wave sleep , psychology , medicine , audiology , electroencephalography , neuroscience , computer science , operating system
Summary The two‐process model of sleep posits that two processes interact to regulate sleep and wake: a homeostatic (Process S) and a circadian process (Process C). Process S compensates for sleep loss by increasing sleep duration and intensity. Process C gates the timing of sleep/wake favouring sleep during the circadian night in humans. In this study, we examined whether taking six naps throughout a 24‐hr period would result in the same amount of dissipation of homeostatic pressure at the end of the day as a night of sleep, when time in bed is equivalent. Data from 46 participants (10−23 years; mean = 14.5 [± 2.9]; 25 females) were analysed. Slow‐wave energy, normalized to account for individual differences in slow‐wave activity, was used as a measure of sleep homeostasis. In the nap condition, slow‐wave energy of six naps distributed equally during a 24‐hr period was calculated. In the baseline condition, slow‐wave energy was measured after 9‐hr time in bed. A paired t ‐test was used to compare nap and baseline conditions. A linear regression was used to examine whether slow‐wave energy varied as a function of age. Slow‐wave energy was greater during baseline than the nap condition ( p < .001). No association between age and slow‐wave energy was found for baseline or nap conditions. Our findings indicate that multiple naps throughout the day are not as effective at dissipating sleep pressure as a night of sleep. This is likely due to the influence of the circadian system, which staves off sleep during certain times of the day.