Neuroscience of Sleep Deprivation: Impacts on Cognition and Neural Mechanisms—A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Sleep deprivation has become a prevalent issue with potential detrimental effects on cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and emotional regulation. This review aims to synthesize current findings on how insufficient sleep affects cognitive performance and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms involved.

Objectives: To examine the impact of sleep deprivation on various cognitive functions, explore its effects on brain structures such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and understand how these effects vary with age and sleep duration.

Methods: This narrative review includes studies from peer-reviewed journals that investigated the cognitive consequences of sleep deprivation. Key studies were selected based on their focus on memory, attention, and emotional regulation, as well as the neurobiological mechanisms involved in these processes.

Results: The review identifies consistent findings that sleep deprivation impairs short-term and long-term cognitive functions. Key deficits were observed in working memory, executive function, and emotional processing, with notable changes in brain structures such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Sleep deprivation’s effects were more pronounced in older adults, whose cognitive vulnerabilities were exacerbated by poor sleep quality.

Conclusion: Sleep deprivation has significant negative effects on cognition, especially in memory and emotional regulation, due to alterations in critical brain regions. The impact is more severe in ageing populations, highlighting the need for interventions to mitigate sleep deprivation’s effects. Future research should focus on tailored interventions, including sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioural therapy, and pharmacological treatments, to improve sleep and cognitive outcomes.