Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Memory, Cognitive Inhibition and How They Relate to Dissociative Experiences

Many clinicians assume that dissociative symptoms (e.g., amnesia, absorption,
derealization) are the direct result of aversive life events (i.e., traumatic
experiences). However, in our recent Psychological Bulletin review, we
summarize evidence showing that dissociative symptoms are also (and perhaps
primarily) related to unusual sleep experiences (e.g., nightmares, hypnopompic
imagery).

The aim of the present study is to test whether sleep deprivation specifically
enhances dissociative symptoms and in doing so, fuels commission errors. It is
designed to investigate whether 36 hours of sleep deprivation increases
deficits in memory and cognitive inhibition. We hypothesize that the largest
effects will be found in people with increased levels of dissociation. We will
primarily investigate whether sleep deprivation induces commission errors,
memory fragmentation, and false memories. Furthermore, we will explore whether
sleep deprivation leads to transient deficits in executive functioning.
Finally, the correlation between dissociative symptoms and a broad range of
sleep measures, anxiety, depression, schizotypy, cognitive failures, and
fantasy proneness will be investigated.
We expect most pronounced effects in participants with high levels of trait
dissociation. We hypothesize that participants who sleep normally will function
better on memory tasks than sleep-deprived participants. However, we expect
sleep-deprived participants to score better on direct recall tasks than
participants who sleep. Moreover, we hypothesize that sleep deprivation will
increase the risk of so called commission errors and false memories in
participants who score high on dissociation measures. Finally, we hypothesize
that sleep deprivation will increase the risk of transient executive
functioning deficits in participants with high dissociation scores.

Participants of the experimental group will be invited to the lab for a 36
hours sleep deprivation period. During this time they will be given several
questionnaires, computer tasks, and interval measurements. Participants in the
control group will attend two shorter sessions involving the same
questionnaires, computer tasks, and interval measurements as the experimental
group.

36 hours of sleep deprivation in the sleep laboratory of the University of
Maastricht.

No serieus risks are associated with participation. Sleep deprivation can only
lead to fatique/sleepiness and a chance on a slight headache.