OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of 36-hour sleep deprivation (SD) on the brain electrophysiological indicators of visuo-motor coupling in young soldiers.

METHODSDuring the 36-hour SD, 10 healthy young soldiers were tested on visuospatial rotation tasks by event-related potentials system before and after SD. The incubation period and amplitude of P500 as well as their error number and reaction time were measured.

RESULTSCompared with subjects in SD 0-hour,subjects in SD 36-hour had significantly increased error rate [(9.7 ± 3.9)% vs. (18.3 ± 4.5)%, P<0.05] and significantly increased reaction time [(632.5 ± 53.6) ms vs. (693.6 ± 65.7) ms, P < 0.05]. Subjects in SD 36-hour showed significantly reduced amplitudes than those in SD 0-hour [(8.7 ± 2.3) ΜV vs. (5.2 ± 1.6) ΜV, P < 0.05]. Additionally, subjects in SD 36-hour showed significantly increased P500 latencies than did those in SD 0-hour [(489.6 ± 42.6) ms vs .(530.2 ± 51.9) ms, P < 0.05]. Compared with subjects in SD 0-hour, the deficit was an absence of a mental rotation function SD 36-hour in subjects.

CONCLUSIONSThe 36-hour SD in young soldiers can harm the processing mechanism of visuo-motor coupling in a certain extent. SD can affect the fixed position ability of visual space cognition in young soldiers.