Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X-ANP-2021-0182
Sleep disorders and attention: a systematic review
Distúrbios de sono e atenção: uma revisão sistemáticaABSTRACT
Background: Sleep is a special physiological state that occurs cyclically. The probable role of sleep in our organic functions remains to be explored to clarify the impact of sleep on brain functions. Sleep deprivation is known to affect all parts of the brain separately and independently, but further research is needed on the impact of sleep disorders on attention, particularly the specific types of attention that are most affected, and whether there is such a correlation. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the possible correlation between sleep disorders and attentional performance. Methods: A systematic review and search at PubMed, SciELO, and Cochrane scientific databases for articles published in the last 10 years was carried out using the following keywords: sleep, attention, and attentional performance. Inclusion criteria were the use of attention tests and sleep disorders. Of the 1398 articles found, 15 were selected and included in this review. Results: The number of publications evaluating sleep and sleep disorders has increased, but is still limited. Of all the functions normally assessed, patients with sleep disorders perform worse on attention tasks, especially with sustained attention. However, these data require further investigation due to the complexity and diversity of the disorders, the small sample size of the included studies, and the fact that few studies used standardized tests. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the correlation between sleep and attention is strong but limited. Few studies are devoted exclusively to the extent to which sleep disorders interferes with attention.
RESUMO
Antecedentes: O sono é um estado fisiológico especial que ocorre de maneira cíclica. Sabe-se que a privação do sono afeta todas as partes do cérebro de forma separada e independente, mas sobre o impacto que os distúrbios do sono podem ter sobre a atenção ainda são necessárias mais pesquisas, especialmente sobre os tipos específicos de atenção mais afetados e se existe tal correlação. Objetivo: Conduzir uma revisão sistemática da possível correlação entre os distúrbios do sono e o desempenho atencional. Métodos: Revisão sistemática e busca nas bases de dados científicos PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) e Cochrane por publicações dos últimos 10 anos foram realizadas usando as seguintes palavras-chave: sono, atenção e desempenho atencional. Os critérios de inclusão foram o uso de testes de atenção e a abordagem de distúrbios do sono. Dos 1.398 artigos encontrados, 15 foram selecionados e incluídos nesta revisão. Resultados: O número de publicações que avaliavam sono e distúrbios do sono cresceu, mas ainda são escassos. De todas as funções normalmente avaliadas, os pacientes com distúrbios do sono têm pior desempenho nas tarefas de atenção, especialmente com atenção sustentada. No entanto, esses dados requerem investigações adicionais em virtude da complexidade e da diversidade dos distúrbios, do pequeno tamanho das amostras e dos poucos estudos que utilizaram testes padronizados. Conclusões: Nossas conclusões mostram que a correlação entre sono e atenção é forte mas limitada. Poucos estudos dedicam-se exclusivamente a descobrir até que ponto os distúrbios do sono atrapalham a atenção.
Authors’ contributions:
TR: conception of the article, literature review, first draft; NS: conception of the article, literature review, first draft, critical review of the manuscript, final editing.
Publication History
Received: 10 May 2021
Accepted: 02 September 2021
Article published online:
06 February 2023
© 2022. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil
-
References
- 1 Fernandes RMF. O sono normal. Medicina (Ribeirão Preto) 2006; Jun; 39 (02) 157-168 https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2176-7262.v39i2p157-168
- 2 Eugene AR, Masiak J. The Neuroprotective Aspects of Sleep. MEDtube Sci 2015; Mar; 3 (01) 35-40
- 3 Valle LELR do, Valle ELR do, Reimão R. Sono e aprendizagem. Rev Psicopedag 2009; 26 (80) 286-290
- 4 Xie L, Kang H, Xu Q, Chen MJ, Liao Y, Thiyagarajan M. et al. Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain. Science 2013; Oct; 342(6156) 373-377 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241224
- 5 Sateia MJ. International classification of sleep disorders-third edition: highlights and modifications. Chest 2014; Nov; 146 (05) 1387-1394 https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.14-0970
- 6 Chun MM, Jiang Y. Contextual cueing: implicit learning and memory of visual context guides spatial attention. Cogn Psychol 1998; Jun; 36 (01) 28-71 https://doi.org/10.1006/cogp.1998.0681
- 7 Hennawy M, Sabovich S, Liu CS, Herrmann N, Lanctôt KL. Sleep and attention in Alzheimer’s disease. Yale J Biol Med 2019; Mar; 92 (01) 53-61
- 8 Otmani S, Pebayle T, Roge J, Muzet A. Effect of driving duration and partial sleep deprivation on subsequent alertness and performance of car drivers. Physiol Behav 2005; Apr; 84 (05) 715-724 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2005.02.021
- 9 Norman DA, Shallice T, Attention to action: willed and automatic control of behaviour. Davidson RJ, Schwartz GE, Shapiro DE. Consciousness and self-regulation. New York: Plenum Press; 1986: 1-14
- 10 Oliveira B de, De Martino MMF. Análise das funções cognitivas e sono na equipe de enfermagem nos turnos diurno e noturno. Rev Gaúcha Enferm 2013; Mar; 34 (01) 30-36 https://doi.org/10.1590/S1983-14472013000100004
- 11 Li X, Zhou Z, Jia S, Hou C, Zheng W, Rong P. et al. Cognitive study on Chinese patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. J Neurol Sci 2016; Jul; 366: 82-86 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2016.04.047
- 12 Waggoner LB, Grant DA, Van Dongen HPA, Belenky G, Vila B. A combined field and laboratory design for assessing the impact of night shift work on police officer operational performance. Sleep 2012; Nov; 35 (11) 1575-1577 https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.2214
- 13 Niu S-F, Chu H, Chen C-H, Chung M-H, Chang Y-S, Liao Y-M. et al. A comparison of the effects of fixed- and rotating-shift schedules on nursing staff attention levels: a randomized trial. Biol Res Nurs 2013; Oct; 15 (04) 443-450 https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800412445907
- 14 Djonlagic I, Guo M, Matteis P, Carusona A, Stickgold R, Malhotra A. First night of CPAP: impact on memory consolidation attention and subjective experience. Sleep Med 2015; Jun; 16 (06) 697-702 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2015.01.017
- 15 Richards KC, Gooneratne N, Dicicco B, Hanlon A, Moelter S, Onen F. et al. CPAP adherence may slow 1-year cognitive decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and apnea. J Am Geriatr Soc 2019; Mar; 67 (03) 558-564 https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15758
- 16 Karimi M, Eder DN, Eskandari D, Zou D, Hedner JA, Grote L. Impaired vigilance and increased accident rate in public transport operators is associated with sleep disorders. Accid Anal Prev 2013; Mar; 51: 208-214 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2012.11.014
- 17 Castronovo V, Scifo P, Castellano A, Aloia MS, Iadanza A, Marelli S. et al. White matter integrity in obstructive sleep apnea before and after treatment. Sleep 2014; Sep; 37 (09) 1465-1475 https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.3994
- 18 Bawden FC, Oliveira CA, Caramelli P. Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on cognitive performance. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr 2011; Aug; 69 (04) 585-589 https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X2011000500003
- 19 Luz GP, Guimarães TM, Weaver TE, Nery LE, Silva LOE, Badke L. et al. Impaired sustained attention and lapses are present in patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath 2016; May; 20 (02) 681-687 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-015-1279-7
- 20 Moraes M, Rossini S, Reimão R. Executive attention and working memory in narcoleptic outpatients. Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr 2012; May; 70 (05) 335-340 https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x2012005000007
- 21 Lancee J, Yasiney SL, Brendel RS, Boffo M, Clarke PJF, Salemink E. Attentional bias modification training for insomnia: a double-blind placebo controlled randomized trial. PLoS One 2017; Apr; 12 (04) e0174531 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174531
- 22 García A, Angel JD, Borrani J, Ramirez C, Valdez P. Sleep deprivation effects on basic cognitive processes: which components of attention, working memory, and executive functions are more susceptible to the lack of sleep?. Sleep Sci Apr-Jun 2021; 14 (02) 107-118 https://doi.org/10.5935/1984-0063.20200049
- 23 Norton R. The effects of acute sleep deprivation on selective attention. Br J Psychol 1970; May; 61 (02) 157-161 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1970.tb01233.x
- 24 Alikhani M, Ebrahimi A, Farnia V, Khazaie H, Radmehr F, Mohamadi E. et al. Effects of treatment of sleep disorders on sleep, psychological and cognitive functioning and biomarkers in individuals with HIV/AIDS and under methadone maintenance therapy. J Psychiatr Res 2020; Nov; 130: 260-272 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.07.043
- 25 Zhao F, Xu H, Hong Y, Zhao Y, Yan H, Ma Q. et al. Attention network function of insomniacs improved by manual acupuncture: evidence from Attention Network Task. World J Acupunct Moxibustion 2019; 29 (02) 91-96 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wjam.2019.05.006
- 26 Fortier-Brochu E, Morin CM. Cognitive impairment in individuals with insomnia: clinical significance and correlates. Sleep 2014; Nov; 37 (11) 1787-1798 https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.4172
- 27 Nir Y, Andrillon T, Marmelshtein A, Suthana N, Cirelli C, Tononi G. et al. Selective neuronal lapses precede human cognitive lapses following sleep deprivation. Nat Med 2017; Dec; 23 (12) 1474-1480 https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.4433