The Neurocognitive Effects of Sleep Disruption in Children and Adolescents

Sleep problems in children and adolescents are common, and sleep disruption is associated with a wide range of behavioral, cognitive, and mood impairments, including hyperactivity, reduced school grades, and depression. Insufficient or fragmented sleep may induce sleepiness, which is associated with problematic behavior, impaired learning, and/or negative mood. Furthermore, treatment of sleep disruption, by improving sleep hygiene or treating specific sleep disorders, is often associated with improvements in daytime performance, suggesting a common mechanism for the behavioral manifestations. This article reviews the daytime manifestations of sleep disruption.