0080 The Influence of Habitual Sleep Duration on Rational Thinking Ability

Abstract

Introduction: Higher cognitive abilities, such as executive functions, can be impaired by acute sleep loss, but findings have been inconsistent across different cognitive abilities. It is possible that long-term habitual sleep patterns may affect executive functions differently than acute sleep loss. Moreover, few studies have explored the role of habitual sleep duration on rational thinking, a computational method of solving problems. We focused on whether long-term sleeping patterns versus short-term sleep habits (hours of sleep the night before, self-reported sleepiness during testing, caffeine ingestion before testing) may affect scores on a measure of rational thinking, an understudied aspect of executive function. Methods: 30 participants completed several questionnaires while in a private laboratory testing room. Participants were administered a Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), a questionnaire regarding recent sleep habits, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT-7). The CRT-7 measures “rational thinking”, which is a task designed to assess the ability to “override” reflexive thought processes and employ deliberate cognition. Results: Higher CRT-7 scores were associated with the average hours of sleep per night over the past month (r=.496, p