Impaired concentration after sleep deprivation is caused by the brain's "self-cleaning" process.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered that during brief lapses in attention that occur after a sleepless night, a wave of cerebrospinal fluid is triggered in the brain, washing away accumulated waste—a process that typically occurs only during sleep. The results of the study were published in Nature Neuroscience (NN).
In an experiment involving 26 volunteers, researchers used MRI and EEG to capture synchronous changes in brain activity, breathing, pulse, and pupil size. During moments of loss of concentration, fluid was washed out of the brain, and after attention was restored, it returned. These fluctuations indicate that the brain in a state of sleep deprivation is forced to "steal" time from wakefulness to cleanse itself of metabolic waste.
Scientists suggest that this "self-cleaning" of the brain is accompanied by a temporary decrease in attention and activity because the same neural circuit controls both cognitive functions and physiological processes—breathing, blood flow, and fluid movement. This data helps to understand why sleep deprivation leads not only to fatigue but also to impaired concentration and coordination.
Previously, specialists found that avoiding regular use of sleeping pills can reduce the risk of falls and cognitive impairments in older adults, as well as extend lifespan.
Leave a comment