Sleep Less, Think Worse: The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Working Memory

Sleep deprivation is increasingly common and poses serious problems for optimal cognitive functioning. Here we review the empirical literature on the consequences of sleep loss for working memory. The bulk of the research suggests that sleep is essential for working memory. Sleep deprivation inhibits general attentional and mnemonic abilities and influences neural activation in frontal and parietal cortices, areas critical for working memory. Decreases in task performance are typically accompanied by decreased activation in task-relevant areas under conditions of sleep deprivation. However, there is some evidence that deprivation can lead to increases in activation as a compensatory mechanism allowing for maintained performance. We conclude by discussing what is known about the remediation of these impairments through the use of caffeine and other stimulants.