Effects of total sleep deprivation on attention network conflict and sample entropy analysis of EEG

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effects of total sleep deprivation (TSD) on brain attention network and to analyze the effects of sleep deprivation on individual selective attention network conflict effect and electroencephalograph (EEG) sample entropy. Methods: Twenty-five healthy subjects participated in the test from 9: 00am that day to 9: 00pm next day. The subjects completed the attention network task (ANT) before and after TSD, and synchronously recorded the EEG signals. Sample entropy algorithm was used to analyze the changes of EEG complexity in delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands before and after TSD. Results: Compared with before TSD, the reaction time of attention network conflict effect was significantly decreased after TSD (P＜0. 01), and rate was increased significantly (P＜0. 01). Sample entropy analysis of EEG showed that in beta frequency bands, the sample entropy related to attention network conflict control was increased significantly after TSD (P＜0. 01). No significant difference was found in other EEG frequency bands. Conclusion: TSD reduces the effect of brain attention network conflict, reflecting the decline of conflict control ability after 36 h TSD.