The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Signal Detection Parameters

Abstract

Twelve subjects performed a high signal rate vigilance task, once after a night's sleep, and once after a night without sleep. Raw scores were transformed into the signal detection parameters, d′ and β. After sleep deprivation, detection performance was significantly impaired. This was reflected in a fall of d′, whereas β was not significantly altered. Analysing the control data alone for comparison with other vigilance studies revealed a decrement in % signals detected and d′, and an increase in β from the first to the second half of the test.