What is the effect of sleep deprivation on reaction time?
Introduction
Sleep Deprivation is the lack of sufficient sleep and causes
physiological and psychological fatigue. The amount of sleep
that a person needs varies from one person to another, but
on average most adults need about seven to eight hours of
sleep each night to feel well rested. Teens need an average of
about nine hours of sleep per night, and children need nine
hours of nightly sleep or more, depending on their age. It is
estimated that being sleep deprived for around 24 hours can
shows similar physiological and psychological signs of a
person who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.1.
From previous research conducted it is suggested that being
sleep deprived will delay the activity of interneurons in the
central nervous system (CNS) to make decisions based on
sensory information delivered by the sensory neurons. From
this information we can assume that our ability to react
based on sensory information will be slower when sleep
deprived than if we were properly rested.
This investigation aims to test the effects of sleep deprivation
on reaction compared to a well rested being. It is predicted
that male VCE students that are sleep deprived will
experience an increase in reaction time than if they were
well rested.
The identified variables for investigation included, the
independent variable which was being sleep deprived for
approximately 24 hours and the dependent variable was how
much did the mean reaction time change in seconds when
being sleep deprived.
Method Discussion
PARTICIPANTS: It was predicted in the hypothesis that VCE Students who are sleep deprived
The investigation included three male participants aged between 15-17 will produce a slower reaction time than if well rested. The data shows that
who are attending Brighton Grammar School and completing their VCE
Studies.
the male VCE Students who were sleep deprived produced a mean reaction
time of 0.22s while male VCE Students who were rested produced a mean
MATERIALS reaction time of 0.21s. Therefore the Sleep Deprived male VCE Students
produced a 0.01s slower reaction time than those who were rested. From this
 1 metre Ruler
 Goggles - Sleep deprivation (simulates visually what it is like to be data collected in the investigation we can say that the hypothesis was
sleep deprived for 24 hours) supported.
PROCEDURE
1.Have the participant sit at the edge of the table with the elbow resting
As the male VCE Students who were sleep deprived produced a 0.01s slower
on the edge. reaction time than if rested we can say that the previous research conducted
2.The experimenter holds the ruler by the 100cm mark (top) so that it is valid as it states that the interneurons in the central nervous system (CNS)
hangs vertically, with the 0cm mark between the thumb and forefinger would have slowed down in the making decisions by 0.01s (which is the
of the subject. psychological influence on reaction time) when processing sensory
3.The Experimenter will release the ruler at a random time (unknown to information when the being is sleep deprived.
the participant).
4.The Participant attempts to catch the ruler with their thumb and
An extraneous variable identified in the investigation when recording the data
forefinger as quickly as possible
5.Record the distance the ruler has fallen in centimetres. included the practise of catching a ruler as the sleep deprivation goggles were
6.Repeat this two more times and record each. used on the fourth, fifth and sixth attempt while the control (rested
7.Have the participant put on the goggles and conduct steps 1-6. population) attempts were first, second, third therefore we can assume that
Recording data in the table below. by practising three times before the goggles were used we got better at
catching the ruler and reducing our reaction time. This may have influenced
dependent variable to have only a 0.01s slower reaction time than the
control. Giving the benefit of the doubt I believe that this difference in time
Results would be larger if practise was not an extraneous variable.
If this investigation was to be repeated from the procedure used, I believe
Reaction time of VCE Students who are Sleep
Deprived vs. Rested that the extraneous variable could not be completely removed but could be
reduced in order to give more accurate data. By performing a minor
0.222
0.22 alteration to the procedure you could alternate with the goggles on and off
0.22 each attempt you would reduce the effect that practising can influence on the
Reaction Time (seconds)
0.218 dependent variable.
0.216
0.214 From the investigation and previous research conducted I would recommend
0.212 to any VCE Students that are on there leaners that being sleep deprived is not
0.21
0.21 very safe and that by having an increase in reaction time could be a
0.208
protentional health risk while driving as well as the many other health risks
that come with being sleep deprived. So make sure you are well rested at all
0.206
times.
0.204
Sleep Deprived Non-Sleep Deprived Conclusion
From this research conducted in the investigation it can be justified that
This results graph is comparing the mean reaction time of being sleep deprived does increase reaction time.
VCE Students who are Sleep Deprived vs. Rested. The graph
shows that the VCE Students who were sleep deprived
produced a mean reaction time of 0.22s while VCE Students References
who were rested produced a mean reaction time of 0.21s.
http://tim.thorpeallen.net/Courses/Reference/Citations.html
Therefore Sleep Deprived VCE Students produced a 0.01s https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sleep-deprivation
slower reaction time than those who were rested. https://aasm.org/resources/factsheets/sleepdeprivation.pdf
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2466/pms.102.2.589-599