Research Hit: How Sleep Deprivation Changes Brain Signals In Risky Decision Making

Changes in emotional responses in the brain to risk taking after missing a night's sleep

Well, we know lack of sleep is bad for brain function. You’ve reported on that previously?

Yes, indeed, sleep has a massive impact on the brain. Positive in that this is when the brain is detoxified, reset, genetic damage repaired, and the majority of brain growth and learning happens. Negative in that lack of sleep is, based on what I’ve just mentioned, pretty bad for you - particularly over time.

We also know it changes functional connectivity - you can read this for an overview.

But this recent research by Tianxin Mao of the University of Ottawa matched brain scanning with sleep deprivation and risky decision making - i.e. when you could win or lose something.

I’m sure the outcome is not good!

What is more fascinating is how the brain responds and that gives us more insight.

Mao et al. collected data from 56 healthy adults. These were were tested in two conditions: one in a state of rested wakefulness and two, when they had been deprived of sleep for one night. They had their brains scanned in both conditions while doing a collection of decision-making tasks.

Ok, and what were the results?