The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Brain, Summarized
I combined what I heard from a friend who works at a hospital with what I found by searching through papers.
The conclusion is that sleep deprivation doesn't just make you sleepy—it can directly damage brain function.
1. Memory decline
- During sleep, the brain goes through a process of transferring what you learned during the day into long-term memory. If this process is disrupted, you won't remember what you studied.
2. Reduced emotional regulation
- Especially when sleep-deprived, the amygdala in the brain becomes overreactive, so you may get angry or anxious over trivial things.
3. Slower cognitive speed
- Problem-solving ability and reaction time drop. This is also why the risk of accidents increases while driving or working.
Ultimately, cutting back on sleep to study or work actually reduces efficiency. It's said that you should aim for at least 7 hours a day.
I've also recently felt a clear decline in memory while working on less sleep, so now I plan to prioritize sleep first.
4 answers
Yeah, right. Same here, when I cut down on sleep I get all spaced out.
I tried working on just 4 hours of sleep, but my mental state gave out in less than a week. Efficiency was terrible. Now I'm sticking to 7 hours.
Well, this is all common knowledge, and rather than stories from hospital acquaintances, wouldn't it be better to cite actual papers? There are also ambiguous aspects regarding the scientific basis for sleeping 7 hours or more.
That's right. Emotional regulation really gets worse. I've been so sensitive that I've caused trouble for people around me. Sleep is the best medicine.