Too Little Sleep Can Prove A Gamble

Main Category: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Mental Health
Article Date: 21 Jun 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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People who don't sleep enough are more likely to indulge in risk-taking behaviour, a new study suggests.

Earlier studies have shown that acute, severe sleep deprivation increases risk taking. But a team from Harvard Medical School and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland, has now investigated the effect of chronic deprivation on such behaviour.

Sleep-deprived volunteers underwent a routine psychological test, based on playing cards, in order to assess their propensity for risk-taking.

"Lack of sleep appears to cause people to lose the ability to weigh things up and make a sensible decision," said Erica Lipizzi of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

"It's likely that this might have an influence on things such as, driving, financial decisions or safe sex."

Written by Michael Day, sponsored by sanofi-aventis

SLEEP 2008 - Baltimore