Microsleep

Microsleeps – Unintended Episodes of Loss of Attention

Although you may not realize when it happens, a microsleep can cause you to experience an unintended episode of loss of attention. Often associated with a blank stare, head snapping or prolonged eye closure, microsleeps occur when a person is fatigued but trying to remain awake to perform a monotonous task. Driving a car and watching a computer screen are two of the most common tasks associated with microsleep.
Episodes tend to last from only a few seconds to several minutes and can even occur when a person’s eyes are open. Characterized by the failure to respond to outside information, micro-sleeping can cause a driver to overlook a red light or a pilot to be unaware of a flashing alarm light in the cockpit.

Micro-Sleeping, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Cumulative Sleep Debt

The phenomenon can happen to almost anyone but is most common in people with sleep disorders, particularly Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. It is important to note that while micro-sleeping and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness are related, they are not the same. A person can have a microsleep without Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, and vice versa.
Cumulative sleep debt also increases the chances of a person experiencing a microsleep, which most likely occurs at certain times of day, particularly at pre-dawn and mid-afternoon hours when the body is “programmed” to sleep.
Sleep scientists who study this phenomenon most often associate it with drowsy driving and have tried to develop a diagnostic tool to quantify it through various tests. At this time, there is no agreed-upon clinical tool for assessing microsleep.
Disclaimer: These statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult your physician regarding any sleeping disorders.