Sleep Deprivation Effects On Brain Functions And Behavior

Cramming has been a repeated behavior most students have acquired through long years of study. For majority of students, it helps because short-term memory is at work. If there is downside to it, it is sleep deprivation effects which wreak havoc on mental functions and behavior.

The sleep deprivation effects on the brain has been a subject of many scientific investigations. Sleeplessness can cause adverse effects on brain activities and functions. The temporal lobe which functions in language processing becomes less active when sleep deprived, Only the short-term memory remains active in the parietal lobe which comes less efficient. The cerebral cortex can be damaged by constant sleep deprivation  which may hamper the cognitive skill and lower or reduce brain potentials.

Many studies also proved  that sleeplessness lowers the ability of brain cells to go through cell reproduction and regeneration. So, some  adverse effects of sleep deprivation may lead to dysfunctions like depression, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. Making and improving memories by shifting information in the short-term to long-term becomes possible with sleep.

There are sleep deprivation effects on behavior. Most feel petulant  and irritable when sleep is not enough. Very young children become cranky and may manifest such by crying. The older kids may become too hyperactive or be bad-tempered not knowing how to cope with the feeling. Even teens and adults manifest moodiness. The feeling is also compounded by fatigue and the lack of desire to mingle with people. They so easily get angry over small matters. Sleep deprivation also affect further stir emotions leading to more sleep deprivation. This breeds anxiety which increases agitation making it harder to sleep. Under stress the body is poised to be active, senses are heightened and consciousness is awake. People who live with constant stress or who have abnormally exaggerated responses to stress are more prone to sleep problems. To many, meditations help as it teaches the body to relax.

Interestingly, sleep should be easily mustered because it is a normal body activity which must naturally occur without much effort. It shoud come as normal as possible and not some luxury or reward at the end of the day like it must be desrved. Counter sleep deprivation effects with sleep. It is the only way.