Loss of Sleep Study

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The effects of loss of sleep by Patrick, G. T. W. & Gilbert, J. A. (1896) This study was carried out to find the psychological and physical effects caused by the loss of sleep. The experiment involved 3 participants. 1st- awake for 90 hours 2nd and 3rd- awake for 88 and a half hours every 6 hours physical and psychological tests were carried out to test pulse rate, temperature, weight, grip reaction time, vision, voluntary motor ability and fatigue. These were then tested again after the participants had slept. • weight was recorded after each meal • Pulse was recorded normally. • Grip was tested by a hand dynometer. • Reaction time was tested by a stimulus- a telephone click and the release of a key was the reaction subject being in a room way from recording room. • Pain was tested with an algometer to put pressure on the fingernail of the finger. • Vision was tested in a dark room by making the participant read from a distance. • Memory was tested by making the participant remember 10 points from The Nonsense Syllables. • Voluntary motor ability was tested by tapping a key for five seconds on a recording drum and graphic chronometer. Participants had one or two people watching at all times throughout the experiment. They had meals at 7am, 12.30pm, 6pm and 12.30am The days where spent in occupations and at night the participants would at first be involved in reading or playing games. After some time the nights would be spent walking and playing more active games. 1st participant-J.A.G who was 28 years old and a University assistant professor Normal health Normal sleeping time was 8 hours- 10pm to 6am Woke up at Wednesday 27th November normally at 6am and stayed awake until 12 am Saturday night. 2nd night- felt unwell and suffered from lack of sleep. 3rd night- Improved and suffered less. 4th night- Felt well and spent time in his normal

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