Electroencephalographic Markers of Working Memory Alterations Associated with Sleep Deprivation: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17983950Keywords:
sleep deprivation, Electroencephalography, working memory, event-related potential, P3-N2 complexAbstract
Sleep deprivation (SD) is a condition in which an individual does not get enough sleep. It can also be used to identify the effects of SD on working memory. Working memory is the brain's ability to temporarily hold and manipulate information for short periods to perform tasks that require problem-solving, attention, focus, and multistep instructions. EEG studies have been conducted to detect abnormalities in sleep patterns following sleep deprivation. Electroencephalography (EEG) is an essential indicator of sleep deprivation. There is a direct link between working-memory performance and sleep quantity and quality, with EEG studies suggesting that SD leads to poor working memory in individuals performing attention and decision-making tasks. In this systematic review, we identified nine studies that examined EEG results from working memory tasks. In these studies, SD ranged from 24 to 40 hours and collectively investigated the influence of sleep loss on working memory. We found that Event-Related Potential (ERP), a time-locked waveform measured in response to stimuli, is influenced by SD in both the P3 and N2 components. A decrease in amplitude was observed in the P3 wave, and an increase in latency was observed when the N2 sleep stage was measured after SD. These results suggest that SD negatively affects working memory, leading to prolonged reaction times and impairments on memory tasks.
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