Moderate sleep deprivation produces impairments in cognitive and motor performance equivalent to legally prescribed levels of alcohol intoxication

Objectives—To compare the relative effects on performance of sleep deprivation and alcohol. Methods—Performance effects were studied in the same subjects over a period of 28 hours of sleep deprivation and after measured doses of alcohol up to about 0.1% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). There were 39 subjects, 30 employees from the transport industry and nine from the army. Results—After 17–19 hours without sleep (2230–0100), performance on some tests was equivalent or worse than that at a BAC of 0.05%. Response speeds were up to 50% slower for some tests and accuracy measures were significantly poorer than at this level of alcohol. After longer periods without sleep, performance reached levels equivalent to the maximum alcohol dose given (BAC of 0.1%). Conclusions—These findings reinforce the evidence that fatigue from sleep deprivation is likely to compromise speed and accuracy needed for safety on the road and in other industrial settings.

A M Williamson, Anne-Marie Feyer