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A team of researchers from the University of Portsmouth (UK) has published a new study on restoring cognitive function after sleep deprivation. It turns out rebooting the brain, even when oxygen levels are low, may be easier than you think.
Scientists have repeatedly warned about the widespread tendency of modern people to skimp on sleep and the consequences that follow. About 43 percent of people do not get the recommended 7–9 hours of sleep per night, which has serious implications for physical and mental health, Science Alert reports.
What the Study Revealed
The university team suggests skipping a nap and hopping on a stationary bike after a bad night’s sleep.
Sleep deprivation reduces cognitive performance. The researchers also examined whether a short bout of exercise helps when oxygen levels are low (hypoxia).
The scientists ran two experiments, each with 12 healthy adult volunteers. In the first experiment, they tested participants’ cognitive abilities after three nights of partial sleep deprivation. In the second, they tested cognition after one night of total sleep deprivation under hypoxic conditions.
After the baseline tests, participants cycled on a stationary bike and were tested again. Analyzing the results, the team drew some clear conclusions. The key finding: a 20-minute cycling session improves brain function after both partial and total sleep deprivation, even in hypoxic conditions.
The researchers say these results could help a wide range of people, from new parents to mountaineers.
Researchers’ Comments
“Physical exercise enhances and maintains cognitive abilities,” said physiologist Joe Costello. “But this is the first study to show that exercise improves cognitive function after partial or total sleep deprivation, even when oxygen levels are low.”
The team says more research is needed for a deeper understanding. Still, the experiments provide useful insights into how sleep, exercise, and other stressors interact.
“Sleep deprivation often occurs alongside other stress factors,” said physiologist Thomas Williams. For example, people at high altitudes may also experience sleep disturbances.
Aim for quality sleep rather than trying to make up for lost sleep every morning.
As Joe Costello put it, “movement is medicine for the body and the brain.” The study was published in the journal Physiology & Behavior.
