Effect of total sleep deprivation on egocentric distance estimation following a fatiguing task

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a total sleep deprivation (TSD) on the egocentric distance estimation following a fatiguing task (i.e. sprint repetitions). Ten soccer players (age: 22.8 ± 1.3 years; weight: 72. 8 ± 10 .5 kg; height: 1.8 ± 0.03 m) were volunteered to participate in the study. Subjects were invited to estimate different distances in two different sessions (i) following a reference night and (ii) following a night of TSD. The distance estimation consists to perceive three different distances (15, 25, and 35 m) before and after a repeated sprint exercise on a cycloergometer. The results demonstrated a significant effect of TSD on the perception of egocentric distance (F (1.9) = 11.22, p < 0.01). Indeed, the results showed an underestimation (compression of the real distance) of all distances at rest and following the repeated sprint exercise. Additionally, the underestimation was more acute after the fatiguing task. TSD affects the estimation of egocentric distance by soccer players at rest and following fatiguing task.

Keywords:

• perception
• sleep deprivation
• performance
• repeated sprint ability