Sleep Restriction and Memory and Learning in Adolescents

Investigators from the Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of multi-night sleep restriction on retention of factual knowledge in adolescents. Healthy adolescents, 15–18 years old, were recruited for the study via online advertisements and visits to schools in Singapore. Once enrolled, participants were randomized to a sleep restricted (SR) or control group; randomization was stratified by gender. The SR group was provided 9 hours of sleep opportunity for 2 nights at baseline, followed by 5 consecutive nights when sleep opportunity was restricted to 5 hours (1:00 am–6:00 am), with a final 3 nights of 9 hours of sleep opportunity. Those in the control group were given 9 hours of sleep opportunity …