When we are sleepy, we can make risky decisions, warn US scientists. They published the results of their research in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Researchers from Duke University (USA) have observed – using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – that just one sleepless night increases the activity of those regions of the brain that are responsible for a positive assessment of the situation and the effects of one’s own behavior, and at the same time reduces the activity of regions that determine negative effects prediction our behavior.
29 healthy volunteers took part in the project, their average age was 22 years. The participants’ task was to make financial decisions at 8 am after a normal night’s sleep and later at 6 am after a sleepless night. Their brains were subjected to fMRI.
When participants were sleepy, they often made risky decisions when choosing their money game strategy and were less careful.
It has already been proven that not getting enough sleep impairs our ability to make decisions. Until now, it has been assumed that this is the result of impaired processes of maintaining attention and memory, as well as the integration of signals related to the environment.
Researchers at Duke University showed for the first time that sleep deprivation can change the way the brain evaluates value – independent of attention and memory processes. Researchers have also found that lack of sleep increases our sensitivity to potential reward and reduces our ability to predict the negative consequences of our behavior.
Scientists point out that doctors often make mistakes after long hours of night duty, which may be the result of the observed mechanism.
The authors of the article also argue that this mechanism is used by casino owners who additionally use various tricks to lull the players’ vigilance – they provide free alcohol, turn on flashing lights, exchange real money for tokens or credit cards. Lack of sleep makes gambling even more attractive and addictive, and the perception of risk is significantly disturbed, the researchers explain. (PAP)