Ross Pigeau - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ross Pigeau

The objective of this paper is to examine total sleep deprivation in the context of its behaviora... more The objective of this paper is to examine total sleep deprivation in the context of its behavioral and cognitive effects, as well as to look at some of the ways these effects can be minimized. The paper is presented in two parts: in the first, a general introduction to sleep deprivation is given, examining subjective and objective measures of fatigue, and its effects on performance,including the influence of fatigue modifiers. The second part looks at a new pharmaceutical substance known as modafinil that appears to reduce sleepiness by inhibiting naturally occurring sleep mechanisms. The distinction between sleepiness and fatigue is highlighted, with both conditions affected by a number of modifier variables each of which can interact with the other to exaggerate or moderate performance decrements due to sleep loss. The term sleepiness is used to describe the pressure to fall asleep that is associated with circadian rhythms. The term fatigue, on the other hand, is used for the diminishing ability of the pre-frontal cortex. to function while suffering from sleep loss. The military needs to understand how best to cope with the effects of sleep deprivation. While scenarios involving total sleep deprivation combined with continuous cognitive work are not common, when they do occur the accompanying loss in performance (30% after one night and 60% after the second night) can be unacceptably high. Without opportunities for taking a nap, often the only alternative solution for remaining alert (at least in the short term) is stimulants. In this context, understanding the potential of the new drug modafinil is crucial, as it may offer a safer alternative to the more commonly used substance amphetamine. One of the notable possible side effects of Modafinil discussed in this paper is the overconfidence effect, where subjects fail to realize that their own performance levels have decreased. The effect is discussed in terms of the difference between sleepiness and fatigue. It is suggested that modafinil, unlike amphetamine which is a general central nervous system stimulant, inhibits the experience of sleepiness without similarly ameliorating pre-frontal cortex fatigue. Until the requisite studies are performed to test this hypothesis, it is suggested that modafinil be used with caution for tasks requiring high-level cognition during sleep deprivation. Nevertheless, the relatively benign pharmacological properties of modafinil do make it a safe and worthy alternative to amphetamine for counteracting the effects of sleep loss.

The objective of this paper is to examine total sleep deprivation in the context of its behaviora... more The objective of this paper is to examine total sleep deprivation in the context of its behavioral and cognitive effects, as well as to look at some of the ways these effects can be minimized. The paper is presented in two parts: in the first, a general introduction to sleep deprivation is given, examining subjective and objective measures of fatigue, and its effects on performance,including the influence of fatigue modifiers. The second part looks at a new pharmaceutical substance known as modafinil that appears to reduce sleepiness by inhibiting naturally occurring sleep mechanisms. The distinction between sleepiness and fatigue is highlighted, with both conditions affected by a number of modifier variables each of which can interact with the other to exaggerate or moderate performance decrements due to sleep loss. The term sleepiness is used to describe the pressure to fall asleep that is associated with circadian rhythms. The term fatigue, on the other hand, is used for the diminishing ability of the pre-frontal cortex. to function while suffering from sleep loss. The military needs to understand how best to cope with the effects of sleep deprivation. While scenarios involving total sleep deprivation combined with continuous cognitive work are not common, when they do occur the accompanying loss in performance (30% after one night and 60% after the second night) can be unacceptably high. Without opportunities for taking a nap, often the only alternative solution for remaining alert (at least in the short term) is stimulants. In this context, understanding the potential of the new drug modafinil is crucial, as it may offer a safer alternative to the more commonly used substance amphetamine. One of the notable possible side effects of Modafinil discussed in this paper is the overconfidence effect, where subjects fail to realize that their own performance levels have decreased. The effect is discussed in terms of the difference between sleepiness and fatigue. It is suggested that modafinil, unlike amphetamine which is a general central nervous system stimulant, inhibits the experience of sleepiness without similarly ameliorating pre-frontal cortex fatigue. Until the requisite studies are performed to test this hypothesis, it is suggested that modafinil be used with caution for tasks requiring high-level cognition during sleep deprivation. Nevertheless, the relatively benign pharmacological properties of modafinil do make it a safe and worthy alternative to amphetamine for counteracting the effects of sleep loss.