The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Executive Functions, Moral Decision Making and Social Cognition

Abstract

Objective Sleep is a vital need for human life, and sleep deprivation is a common problem that can have serious consequences. Although the effects of acute sleep deprivation have been frequently reported in the literature, the effects of long-term sleep deprivation have not been well explained. This study investigated the effects of long-term sleep deprivation on executive functions, moral decision making, and social cognition. Method The study involved 85 participants who were between the ages of 20 and 40 and who has not any psychiatric or neurological disorders. The test performance averages of the groups with and without sleep problems were compared. Results The results showed that there was no significant difference in the performance of the two groups on any of the tests. Conclusions The results suggest that long-term sleep deprivation does not have a significant impact on executive functions, moral decision making and social cognition. These results are inconsistent with previous research that has shown that acute sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on these cognitive abilities. However, it is important to note that this study was relatively small, and participants are mostly university student. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.