Nature and Science of Sleep (Mar 2024)
Association Between EEG Microarousal During Nocturnal Sleep and Next-Day Selective Attention in Mild Sleep-Restricted Healthy Undergraduates
Abstract
Diguo Zhai,1,2 Qingwei Chen,1,2 Ying Yao,3 Taotao Ru,1,2 Guofu Zhou1,2 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China; 2National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China; 3Anhui Provincial Library, Hefei, 230000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Taotao Ru; Qingwei Chen, Lab of Light and Physio-Psychological Health-National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics-South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics-South China Normal University, No. 55, West Zhongshan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510631, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15603063417 ; +86 15521094813, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: To explore whether sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) microarousals of different standard durations predict daytime mood and attention performance in healthy individuals after mild sleep restriction.Participants and Methods: Sixteen (nine female) healthy college students were recruited to examine the correlations between nocturnal EEG microarousals of different standard durations (≥ 3 s, ≥ 5 s, ≥ 7 s, ≥ 9 s) under mild sleep restriction (1.5 h) and the following morning’s subjective alertness, mood, sustained attention, and selective attention task performance.Results: Results revealed that mild sleep restriction significantly reduced subjective alertness and positive mood, while having no significant effect on negative mood, sustained attention and selective attention performance. The number of microarousals (≥ 5 s) was negatively associated with positive mood at 6:30. The number of microarousals was significantly and positively correlated with the response time difference value of disengagement component of the selective attention task at around 7:30 (≥ 5 s and ≥ 7 s) and 9:00 (≥ 5 s). The number of microarousals (≥ 7 s) was significantly and positively correlated with the inaccuracy difference value of orientation component of the selective attention task at around 9:00.Conclusion: The number of EEG microarousals during sleep in healthy adults with mild sleep restriction was significantly and negatively related to their daytime positive affect while positively associated with the deterioration of disengagement and orientation of selective attention performance, but this link is dependent on the standard duration of microarousals, test time and the type of task.Keywords: microarousal, alertness, sustained attention, selective attention, sleep restriction
