Using ex-gaussian analysis of reaction time in a psychomotor vigilance test to assess the effects of napping following sleep restriction

Abstract

The psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) is frequently used to measure the negative effects of sleep deprivation on vigilant attention. Although reaction times (RT’s) follow an ex-Gaussian distribution and sleep deprivation generally affects the worst performance, many researchers still use meant RT to describe performance on PVT data. In addition, few studies have used the PVT to study the recuperative effects of napping on PVT performance. As a result, the purpose of our project is to determine whether a 20-minute nap taken in the afternoon differentially affects the shape of the RT distribution following partial sleep restriction. Analysis of ex-Gaussian parameters revealed that napping improved mu, suggesting a distributional shift of RT. As a result, 20-min naps taken in the afternoon improve decrements in vigilant attention caused by partial sleep restriction.