http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9125693&dopt=AbstractPlusNumerous anecdotes in the past suggest the concept that sleep disturbances in astronauts occur more frequently during spaceflight than on ground. Such disturbances may be caused in part by exogenous factors, but also an altered physiological state under microgravity may add to reducing sleep quality in a spacecraft . The present investigation aims at a better understanding of possible sleep disturbances under microgravity. [continued]
DaleSpam said:I sleep less whenever I travel a few hundered miles. I am not surprised that they sleep less when they travel thousands or millions of miles.
What makes this surprising/interesting?
Moonbear said:The point is that the reasons for the sleep disturbances may not be the same in space as on Earth. On Earth, we have a pretty good handle on the cause, and that's the shift in daylight hours. After about a week, you've adjusted to the new schedule, and all is fine. What they are saying is that on the space station, they aren't adjusting to the light schedule. Though, I wonder how consistent they are about the lighting schedule on the space station.
Far Star said:If this phenomena hasn't been noted in other research environments (submarines, caves) I'd be inclined to consider sound as a possible factor.
Moonbear said:I'm not sure what experiments you're referring to regarding subs; can you referece those? I assume by the cave example you're talking about those who were entirely deprived of daylength cues? In those cases, a free running rhythm develops. I can't get the whole article that Ivan posted, but from the abstract, they are saying that a free-running rhythm was not occurring. The only other thing that comes to mind is if they use a different type of light on the space station than standard fluorescent or incandescent bulbs used in lab conditions (usually fluorescent tubes). Perhaps something about the light spectrum they are exposed to is making a difference.
Far Star said:I haven't delved into sub studies but it seems logical to think someone would have noticed a change in sleep pattern if it were common among those spending months under artificial light.
No gravity? Odd, cramped quarters, odd food, odd way of evacuating bowels and urine, confinement, must be some underlying tensions, even if they keep it under control, excitement of where they are. Heck, anyone one of those would be more likely to keep me from sleeping than the lighting.Ivan Seeking said:This paper is linked only to reference the question: Why do astronauts tend to sleep less while in space?
Far Star said:I haven't delved into sub studies but it seems logical to think someone would have noticed a change in sleep pattern if it were common among those spending months under artificial light. It would be handy to know if they've also noticed a similar effect on other mammals in a space environment. I'd also question what type of continuous vibration they might be subject to in relation to space vs earth. It could very well be the type of light source as well. As usual, more questions than answers given a snippet of information.
Spirochete said:Not sure how related this is, but. . .
A while ago (a couple of decades maybe) a professor and a grad student spent over a month in a cave. The goal of the experiment was to determine what sleep pattern they'd fall into in the absence of both light and also in the absence of societal pressure to conform to a "normal" sleep schedule. The professor fell into a regular pattern where he slept 8 hours at a time. The grad student eventually began sleeping for only four hours at a time. However he also was awake for shorter periods of time, maybe 7 hours total before sleeping again. So he ended up with the same amount of sleep as the professor.
The conclusion of the study was "people naturally sleep 8 hours a night, society was right all along." Considering the size of the study, this was obviously not a statistically valid conclusion to reach.
If anybody knows the name of the study author I'd be interested.
Sleep deprivation in space can lead to a variety of negative effects on astronauts, including decreased cognitive function, impaired decision-making abilities, and mood disturbances. It can also increase the risk of accidents and errors during tasks.
There are several factors that contribute to sleep deprivation in space. These include the lack of a natural day/night cycle, the presence of artificial light and noise, and the physical and psychological demands of spaceflight. Additionally, the microgravity environment can disrupt sleep patterns and make it difficult for astronauts to fall asleep.
While it is difficult to fully prevent sleep deprivation in space, there are measures that can be taken to improve astronauts' sleep quality. This includes providing comfortable sleeping environments, implementing a strict sleep schedule, and using sleep aids such as eye masks and earplugs.
Sleep deprivation in space differs from that on Earth due to the unique conditions of spaceflight. The lack of a natural day/night cycle, the presence of artificial light and noise, and the microgravity environment can all contribute to differences in the severity and effects of sleep deprivation.
There is ongoing research being conducted on sleep deprivation in spaceflight to better understand its effects and develop strategies to mitigate it. This includes studies on the use of sleep aids, the impact of artificial light and noise, and the development of technologies to create a more natural sleep environment in space.