Sleepy and at Risk
Experiments in sleep deprivation have shown that there are changes in the brain and in behaviour which impact on our health, intellect and safety. Our ability to learn and remember is affected by lack of sleep.
Research shows that children's performance is affected after a poor nights sleep. Studies have shown that more errors are made with inadequate sleep and that driving while drowsy is a major contributing factor in road accidents.
Although we may not be aware of why we need to sleep, most of us have experienced the consequences of a poor nights sleep. Feeling tired we may become irritable and lose concentration and find it difficult to perform even familiar tasks. Our mood may be affected causing emotional disturbances, which may manifest as anger, tearfulness, anxiety or depression.
Longer term sleep deprivation may result in psychological problems such as depression.