Sleep and Alertness Management III: Effects of a Nap and Hypnotics on Performance During the Late Evening, Night and Early Morning in Marmosets

摘要

It was already shown that napping before duty may be a good strategy to prevent performance decline during periods in which the circadian rhythm indicates the need to sleep. However, in a military setting, operational factors may prevent the onset and/or maintenance of restful sleep. In this case the use of hypnotics can be beneficial. Since immediate performance after premature waking can be required in a military setting it is important to choose hypnotics that do not result in so-called post-nap hangovers. In this study, the marmoset monkey model was validated as a model for testing the effects of drugs on performance during time shift work as is the case in many military operations. Subsequently, the effect of hypnotics in the late afternoon on performance during late evening, night and early morning missions was tested. It was proven that the homeostasis in marmoset monkeys after sleep deprivation is similar to the human homeostasis: The sleep intensity after a night of sleep deprivation, which will happen during late night or early morning duty, is increased in the first hours of sleep similar to human. Furthermore, a short nap by these animals before the sleep deprivation period can prevent most detrimental effects on performance and activity, as is the case in humans. Therefore, the marmoset monkey can be considered as a valid model for testing effects of drugs affecting the sleep and alertness behavior.