The Interaction of the Loss of a Night's Sleep with Mild Heat :Task Variables

Abstract

Twelve men performed 3 tasks after I night without sleep, at 38^°/32^°C (100/90^°F), and with the 2 stresses combined, as well as in a control condition. The 3 tasks were tracking with peripheral lights, the 5 choice task, and an auditory vigilance task, in that order. There was a reliable interaction between the 2 stresses, but only at the start of the auditory vigilance task. Here the detrimental effect of the 2 stresses combined was reliably less than the sum of the 2 separate detrimental effects. There were also differences between the 3 tasks in the direction of the change in the interaction over time, and in the time taken to show reliable effects of the stresses.