The Science Of Sleep

Lesley Stahl Explores The Latest Findings In Sleep Research

(CBS)  What about turning up the radio, or opening the window to lower the temperature?

"Studies show that all of that stuff people tend to do - slapping themselves in the face, rolling the window down, radio up, singing - they're convinced it helps. But it's only a matter of seconds or minutes. And you can have a sudden sleep attack right in the midst of doing that," Dinges says.

And it's not just driving. Dinges has examined, sometimes as an expert witness, the role of inadequate sleep in some of the world's most well-known accidents.

He thinks inadequate sleep may have contributed to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Chernobyl, the Three Mile Island disaster and the 2003 Staten Island ferry crash.

60 Minutes checked. The Exxon Valdez spill happened after midnight with a man at the helm who'd slept only four hours the night before; Chernobyl and Three Mile Island also occurred late at night and involved human error. And the assistant captain who crashed the Staten Island ferry into a pier, killing 11, admitted that he felt exhausted before the accident.

"Many people want something associated with morals or management or…alcohol," Dinges remarks. "Those are far more glamorous. But, in reality, many of these disasters involve poor judgments and slowed reactions at a time when people were basically tired and made not complicated mistakes. Simple ones. And that is the hallmark of sleep deprivation."

Hacina, the sleep-deprived French woman in the Penn study, thought she was maybe alert enough to give Stahl a lift.

"What really struck me is that she didn't know how impaired she was. It was clear, but she didn't know," Stahl remarks.

"That has been a finding in all of our studies. They tell you they've adapted. They're okay," Dinges says.

Dinges says people who are chronically sleep deprived, like people who've had too much to drink, often have no sense of their limitations. They believe they've trained themselves. "I think it's a convenient belief. For the millions of people who don't get enough sleep because their commute to work is too long, or they spend too many hours at work, or they just want this lifestyle of go, go, go, it's convenient to say, 'I've learned to live without sleep.' But you bring ‘em into the laboratory - and we have an open challenge to any CEO or anyone in the world, come into the laboratory - we don't see this adaptation," he says.

One thing sleep researchers do see is that their sleep-deprived volunteers often have mood swings: they get short-tempered, then become almost giddy, sometimes within seconds.

"We took a group of young college undergraduates and we deprived them of sleep for about 35 hours straight. And then we placed them inside a MRI scanner and we showed them increasingly negative and disturbing images," says Matthew Walker, who devised a study to look at what was going on inside their brains. "And what we found was that in those people who had a good night of sleep, the control group, they showed a nice, modest, controlled response in their emotional centers of the brain."

"But, when we looked in the sleep deprived subjects, instead, what we found is a hyperactive brain response," he says.

And what's more, in the sleep-deprived subjects, Walker discovered a disconnect between that over-reacting amygdala (a region of the brain) and the brain's frontal lobe, the region that controls rational thought and decision-making, meaning that the subjects' emotional responses were not being kept in check by the more logical seat of reasoning. It's a problem also found in people with psychiatric disorders.

"So you're saying that you take someone with a severe mental disorder and a person without that disorder, but deprive them of sleep, and the brain scan will look similar?" Stahl asks.

"Their pattern of brain activity was not dissimilar. So I think what it forces us to do really now is to appreciate more significantly the role that sleep may be playing in mental health and in psychiatric diseases. And I think that could be one of the futures of the field of sleep research," Walker replies.

Walker says most of us need seven and a half to eight hours of sleep every night.

[kids15]

I really enjoyed the topic because the topic is about our every day lives. Millions of americans suffer from not getting enough sleep. For instance americans are in so much stress living in the every day lives we dont realize that not getting enough rest can make the individual sick. A persons body can begin to shut down without a person not even knowing it. We have daily american people working numerous amount of shifts. We have americans working part-time, full-time, eight hour shifts, four days on four days off and so on. When the typical person finally lies down the individual cant go to right to sleep. Their legs might cant keep still and it goes on and on. Inconclusion, if americans could maybe when get the chance to get a couple of hours of rest, they might take advantage of it. I am a Certified Nurses Aide, and I am trying to get into the RN program, and me myself is an an example because of everyday living. If americans could take the time out to think about maybe if something needs to be done if maybe putting it on the back burner or if its not as important as the other errands during the day, then maybe that could be an extra hour in the day to be able to relax and have time for themselves.

[8471nextel]

I find this video very interesting, specially the second part because it can be related to our teenager?s life. It is very important for them to understand the importance of getting enough hours of sleep, learn the consequences of sleep deprivation and to understand the constellation of healthy related issues when not getting enough sleep. We can start from the cognitive, emotional and physical impairment. Many students fell asleep during class for that reason, their levels of academic achievements are greatly affected and their vulnerability to make wrong decision can is also highly increased for the very same reason. Even obesity seems to be somehow related. How about driving at 16 when sleep deprived?.extremely dangerous...
I also believed that videos like this one and others related to sleep are supposed to be shared with students in the classroom, in a sleep awareness week or once a year, mandatory.

[sleepnotebook]

It is truly amazing how the brain works while we sleep. When most think our brain is resting, it turns out that it is more active than when awake at certain times of the night. What I find amazing is how the mind goes through the levels of sleep and goes through the pattern multiple times per night. I have definitely applied the rule that if I ever take a nap, I try to never sleep more than 20 minutes or so, forcing my brain to not dip into the deeper levels of sleep. Check out my blog as I battle with problematic sleep at http://www.sleepnotebook.com

[khristine415]

I suffer from Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) and have had trouble with sleep for many years. A lack of sleep during my most troublesome times and symtoms makes the CPTSD worse. This segment was very interesting to me. Lack of sleep can cause a snowball effect with existing mental disorders and mental disorders can also effect sleep. I have found that if I can improve my sleep, or sometimes actually get to sleep and stay asleep, that my symptoms are better and I have an easier time coping with the anxiety and C-PTSD symptoms.

Khristine415

[bealll95]

I''d LOVE to see this study with Paramedics. I have worked as a Paramedic for 14 years now and I have ALWAYS mentioned that the 24 hours with no sleep and treating patients is not only dangerous for the Paramedics, but maybe even fatally dangerous for the patients. Not to mention you have an EMT driving the ambulance with no sleep and using lights and sirens and breaking red lights. How scary is that!?!?!?!

[cbsuser0423]

Is there an address I can write to, to be a part of the sleep deprivation study? During the article on sleep deprivation, one of the clinics said there studies are open to anyone who might want to participate.

[siscokid19]

With all the research being done and verifications as to the severity of loss of clarity, Why is it the armed forces insists on forcing sleep deprivation on our soldiers? Can''t anyone open their eyes to the lasting harm it does to our men? I''m sure there has been programs on this subject but I for one would like to see an update based on the effect to our military in terms of lives lost and lives permanetly destroyed by sleep deprivation. I am sure that if all the "accidents and situations" created by sleep deprivation were classified correctly as a direct or indirect result of sleep deprivation we would all be shocked into action to somehow come up with an alternative for the armed services. I am also sure that unless people know someone in the service and knows their routines they are not aware of how extensive the problem is.
Please help uncover this abuse.

[gavinjohnson-2009]

Strange that you do a story on "the science of sleep" and yet you never mention modafinil. What gives?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil

[gavinjohnson-2009]

Strange that you do a story on "the science of sleep" and yet you never mention modafinil. What gives?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil

[libarsh]

Although this piece was not specifically aimed at the problems associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the health issues related to sleep deprivation are equally applicable to OSA. Snoring, observed episodes of cessation of breathing during sleep, high blood pressure, a shirt collar size of 17 inches in men and 16 inches in women and excessive daytime sleepiness are suggestive of sleep apnea and should be evaluated by a sleep physician.

Treatment options include CPAP (continuous positive air pressure delivered through a tube and nose mask) and oral appliances that maintain the lower jaw in a forward position.

More information is available at www.snoringisntsexy.com and www.quietsleep.com.

Dr. Barsh

(Producers: If you plan to follow this excellent show with one that discusses sleep breathing problems, I would be happy to talk with you about dentistry''s expanding role.)

[libarsh]

Although this piece was not specifically aimed at the problems associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the health issues related to sleep deprivation are equally applicable to OSA. Snoring, observed episodes of cessation of breathing during sleep, high blood pressure, a shirt collar size of 17 inches in men and 16 inches in women and excessive daytime sleepiness are suggestive of sleep apnea and should be evaluated by a sleep physician.

Treatment options include CPAP (continuous positive air pressure delivered through a tube and nose mask) and ora appliances that maintain the lower jaw in a forward position.

More information is available at www.snoringisntsexy.com and www.quietsleep.com.

Dr. Barsh

(Producers: If you plan to follow this excellent show with one that discusses sleep breathing problems, I would be happy to talk with you about dentistry''s expanding role.)

[MollyClaire]

I watched the "Science of Sleep" and "And The Happiest Place On Earth Is...". One question was unanswered: How much sleep do the Danes get?

[johnlsmith7]

I once accepted a position as an Operator at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Powerplant. I was handed a schedule of:
5 days on 2 days off 2nd shift
then 5 days on 2 days off graveyard
then 5 days on 4 days off day shift
I declined the job because of the sleep rotation but can we trust our Nuclear safety to this type of (forced) depravity on the operators?

[p80_mz]

You should do a test of Air Traffic Controllers. Talk about a sleep deprived bunch many of us are working rotating shifts, 10 hour days, 1 day off per week. Add that to the fact that many millions of lives depend on us men and women everyday and it can take a toll on a person. All the tests I saw performed today were nothing in comparison to making split second decisions when two airplanes are hurtling at each other over 500 mph.

[p80_mz]

You should do a test of Air Traffic Controllers. Talk about a sleep deprived bunch many of us are working rotating shifts, 10 hour days, 1 day off per week. Add that to the fact that many millions of lives depend on us men and women everyday and it can take a toll on a person. All the tests I saw performed today were nothing in comparison to making split second decisions when two airplanes are hurtling at each other over 500 mph.

[p80_mz]

You should do a test of Air Traffic Controllers. Talk about a sleep deprived bunch many of us are working rotating shifts, 10 hour days, 1 day off per week. Add that to the fact that many millions of lives depend on us men and women everyday and it can take a toll on a person. All the tests I saw performed today were nothing in comparison to making split second decisions when two airplanes are hurtling at each other over 500 mph.

[p80_mz]

You should do a test of Air Traffic Controllers. Talk about a sleep deprived bunch many of us are working rotating shifts, 10 hour days, 1 day off per week. Add that to the fact that many millions of lives depend on us men and women everyday and it can take a toll on a person. All the tests I saw performed today were nothing in comparison to making split second decisions when two airplanes are hurtling at each other over 500 mph.

[p80_mz]

You should do a test of Air Traffic Controllers. Talk about a sleep deprived bunch many of us are working rotating shifts, 10 hour days, 1 day off per week. Add that to the fact that many millions of lives depend on us men and women everyday and it can take a toll on a person. All the tests I saw performed today were nothing in comparison to making split second decisions when two airplanes are hurtling at each other over 500 mph.

[agstatered]

I have been sleep deprived since I was 17 years old (1982). Life has been miserable. Sleep studies in the late 80s and early 90s showed no sleep "disorder," but that something was wrong because I could not stay awake during the day studies. They wished me luck. During this time, I was constantly exhausted, sleeping 16-18 hrs/day, incapable of retaining information, inable to focus, falling asleep at inappropriate times, CONSTANT cravings for carbohydrates and increased mental instability (severe OCD, anxiety, and paranoia). In 2000 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. The diagnosising doctor told me the first thing he was going to treat was my lack of sleep.
My life changed after that day. My anxiety, paranoia, and OCD decreased greatly & I lost 45 lbs in 10 wks without exercise. My EXTREME cravings for carbohydrates had dropped to a small rumble. My mental stability was much better; life was not as bleak. Every day life was easier to handle and I no longer felt that my life (and mind) was completely out of control.I will probably always be sleep deprived due to the Fibro, especially while in the workforce. I cannot take the nec. dose of sleep meds during the wk because it''s hard to wake up. I go to work tired. To date, I have NEVER said that I have woken up feeling "refreshed."
I think it is so important that people realize how much sleep is necessary for a well-balanced life and I am very happy that this problem is being focused on. Keep up the good work.

[randallk44]

I very much appreciate the depth to which you covered this!!! I am a person who suffers from mental illness and have gotten worse and worse because I am constantly robbed of sleep. My city (Merced) doesn''t adhere to the Noise Abatement laws and have had to fight for years trying to get the police to enforce the law, with little success. I have people driving throughout the neighborhood multiple times a night, honking their horns repeatedly, to wake up immigrant workers. About 10 more times a night waken up by people driving around with stereos at extreme volumes during the night and all hours of the day.

I have tried time and again to move and the same problems. My health has gotten so bad that I am shoved into depressions that last for months now. It has literally been years since I have gotten anything close to a good nights sleep. For me, my art when I can still focus is my only happiness and I tire of endlessly having to fight for my home.

I mean, I can''t even hardly fill out the registration here - and I used to own a computer shop!!! Endless frustration... (sorry).