Boosting Cognitive Performance Through Sleep

"We know that insufficient sleep is correlated with a number of very serious medical and mental health conditions, as well as performance degradation. This is especially important for those for whom peak cognition is important to us all (e.g., transportation workers, medical personnel, law enforcement, military, all of the other drivers on the road-you get the idea). As a descriptive example, sleep-deprived drivers are WORSE drivers than intoxicated drivers."

"Bottom line, sleep is important for all of us in maintaining health, and safely and effectively accomplishing our day-to-day activities. Although adequate sleep keeps us functional, good sleep enables us to optimize both our physical and cognitive performance and increase our safety, effectiveness, and well-being. Elite athletes and other professionals are well aware of this and make sleep a high priority in their lives. But whether you are an elite professional or not, making sleep a priority in your life is a game-changer."

"For almost all adults, the magic number is somewhere between seven and nine hours. You might be saying to yourself, "That's a pretty big range," and you wouldn't be wrong. We are each a bit different; thus, the key is to figure out your personal number. How much you need is a critical piece of information for you personally, and consistency is key."

Sleep is a basic requirement for life and is essential to physical and mental health, cognition, energy, and motivation. Insufficient sleep correlates with serious medical and mental conditions and performance degradation; sleep-deprived drivers can be worse than intoxicated drivers. Adequate sleep maintains function, while good sleep optimizes physical and cognitive performance, safety, effectiveness, and well-being. Elite professionals prioritize sleep, and making sleep a personal priority benefits everyone. Most adults need seven to nine hours, though individual needs vary. Consistency matters, and even one night under six hours impairs sustained attention. Sleep quality is as important as quantity.

Read at Psychology Today