Sleep Loss - Debit & Credit

Sleep Loss - Debit & Credit

And if tonight my soul may find her peace in sleep, and sink in good oblivion, and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created. - D.H. Lawrence

Lost sleep can be compensated, but only to a certain extent. If, for example, we loose a night's sleep of 8hrs, we cannot sleep continuously for 16hrs the next day. After a significant sleep loss, we may have more slow-wave sleep (deep sleep) for the next couple of nights, but we rarely sleep more than 2-4hrs longer than usual. Cognitive abilities like paying attention and reacting to a stimulus are reduced even with a moderate reduction of sleep. The person suffers from tiredness and lack of energy, is irritable, grouchy and suffers from excessive daytime sleepiness.

Reference:

1. Huxley, Aldous. In Coren S. Sleep Thieves: An Eye-Opening Exploration into the Science and Mysteries of Sleep. New York: The Free Press; 1996, p. 175.