Sleep Deprivation Triggers Cognitive Control Impairments in Task-Goal Switching

Abstract

Study objectives: This study investigates the impact of sleep deprivation (SD) on task-goal switching, a key component of cognitive flexibility.

Methods: Task-goal switching performance was tested after one night of regular sleep (n = 17 participants) or of total SD (n = 18). To understand the relationships between task-switching performance and other cognitive processes following SD, participants were tested for other key attentional (alertness and vigilance) and executive (inhibition and working memory) functions. Spontaneous eye blink rate (EBR) was also measured as an indirect marker of striatal dopaminergic function.

Results: SD negatively affects task-goal switching as well as attentional and inhibition measures, but not working memory. Changes in task-goal switching performance were not significantly correlated with changes in objective and subjective markers of fatigue and sleepiness, response inhibition, or spontaneous EBR.

Conclusions: Altogether, our results show differentiated effects of SD on key executive functions such as working memory, inhibition, and task-goal switching.

Keywords: cognitive control; cognitive flexibility; dopamine; eye blink; sleep deprivation; task switching.