Neural consequences of chronic sleep disruption

Recent studies in both humans and animal models call into question the com-pleteness of recovery after chronic sleep disruption. Studies in humans have identified cognitive domains particularly vulnerable to delayed or incomplete recovery after chronic sleep disruption, including sustained vigilance and episodic memory. These findings, in turn, provide a focus for animal model studies to critically test the lasting impact of sleep loss on the brain. Here, we summarize the human response to sleep disruption and then discuss recent findings in animal models examining recovery responses in circuits pertinent to vigilance and memory. We then propose pathways of injury common to various forms of sleep disruption and consider the implications of this injury in aging and in neurodegenerative disorders.

Automated summary

Recent studies question the full recovery after chronic sleep disruption in both humans and animals. Human studies identify specific cognitive domains, such as sustained vigilance and episodic memory, that are particularly vulnerable to delayed or incomplete recovery. These findings guide animal model studies in examining the lasting impact of sleep loss on the brain. The article proposes common injury pathways in various forms of sleep disruption and discusses the implications of this injury in aging and neurodegenerative disorders.