Brain fluid waves tied to sleep-deprived lapses.
Study finds attention lapses in sleep-deprived people coincide with brain fluid waves.
Why it matters
- Reveals brain mechanism behind attention lapses in sleep-deprived individuals.
- Suggests lapses may be brain's attempt to perform maintenance tasks usually done during sleep.
By the numbers
- Study involved 26 volunteers.
- Fluid wave occurred moments after attention dropped.
- Pupils constricted ~12 seconds before fluid wave.
The big picture
- Sleep deprivation impacts brain's ability to maintain attention.
- Brain may try to perform essential maintenance tasks even when awake.
What they're saying
- Comments speculate on practical tips and potential links to ADHD.
- Experts note profound changes in brain fluid flow due to sleep deprivation.
Caveats
- Small sample size.
- Unclear if fluid waves are beneficial or harmful.
What’s next
- Further research on mitigating attention lapses.
- Exploring ways to increase cerebrospinal fluid flow.